Madhya Pradesh Tea Seller’s Daughter Tops Indian Air Force Academy

A 23-year-old Aanchal Gangwal graduated from the Indian Air Force Academy on Saturday. Her teary-eyed father watched his flying officer daughter in uniform on TV, bagging the President’s Plaque at the combined graduation parade held at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

Aanchal comes from a humble background. Her father Suresh Gangwal owns a small tea stall at Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh.

Aanchal credits her father for the hard work he’s been putting in for his entire life to ensure that his children (two daughters and one son) achieve what they dreamt of.

The 23-year-old said that she always wanted to join the defence forces.

Unfortunately, Aanchal’s parents couldn’t join her in the ceremony due to the travelling restrictions but they were in tears after watching their daughter’s graduation ceremony on TV.

I used to dream of this day almost every night. To stand in my uniform, in front of my father and mother, who have fought all the difficulties in their lives to get me here. However, due to Covid-19 that could not happen,” The New Indian Express reported.

After graduating from a government degree college in Neemuch in Computer Science, Aanchal joined the Madhya Pradesh police department as a Sub-Inspector.

Later, she quit the job after being into merit as Labour Inspector. “I worked there for eight months before joining the forces,” she said to The Hindu.

Soon after graduation, she also appeared for AFCAT and got recommended in SSB in her sixth attempt. “When I told my parents that I want to be in defence, they were a little worried like any parent. But they never tried to stop me. In fact, they have always been the pillars of my life.”

An elated Aanchal added, “I am always ready to serve my motherland and see this as an opportunity to do so.”She also expressed that her parents were always supportive about her dreams and never doubted her capabilities despite being a girl from a small town.