The weekend has just gone by and the family spent time watching movies and bonding. We watched Gunjan Saxena – The Kargil Girl this week. And I am so glad we did.
The film is based on the life of Gunjan Saxena played by Jahnvi Kapoor then a flying officer, who became the first woman combat aviator to fly into a war zone during the 1999 Kargil War. The Kargil Girl is not a war film. It is a heart-warming story of a father played by Pankaj Tripathi who stood by his daughter like a rock as she manoeuvred her way through the labyrinths of life.
Watching this with my 14-year-old daughter & 10-year-old son I hoped that they both drew inspiration from this movie. I came away with some new life lessons that I definitely want my children to learn especially in today’s turbulent times. Parents. Promise yourselves to raise your daughters equal to your sons.
This Is What I Told My Daughter
Aspirations Should Not Be Gendered
We see how Gunjan Saxena faces rejections since childhood when she confesses her dream of joining the military and become the Indian Air Force Pilot. A dream that her father fuels despite opposition from his wife and son, who believe it to be job unfit for women. I want my kids to dream and to live every moment of it. They shouldn’t stop themselves from achieving what they want even if they face obstacles along the way. The get-up-and-go attitude in Gunjan Saxena is what makes it special. I want my son to know that his sister can do everything as well as he can and the is no ‘only-boys’ domain.
The Father-Daughter Bond
Gunjan harboured dreams of flying the aircraft since she was a child and her father was the person who provided her unconditional support. He had unflinching faith in his daughter and despite reservations from his son (also an Armyman) finds ways to ensure that Gunjan doesn’t leave a stone unturned while preparing to get into the Indian Air Force. He says – “I want to give you the wings to fly “
We want our daughter to know that we will always stand by her and that her bond with her father is a special one. I hope it stays strong as it is now.
In The Face Of Discrimination
Gunjan moved to Srinagar Air Field after joining IAF. She was the only woman pilot among the male-dominated group of officers. Her entry in the academy made many uncomfortable and she was the subject of harsh discrimination. She got disheartened but realized that she needed to face her fears and her
There is a fantastic scene in which she confronts the men at the Air Force Station and shows them a mirror by pointing out that their problem is nothing else but just the fact that they fear this ‘Madam’ is out there to become a ‘Sir’. There would be a multitude of women who would identify with this even today. I am sure my daughter will face it at some point in her life. I want her to know that she just has to stay strong and believe in herself and her convictions.
If you haven’t watched this yet, then you must. Check out the trailer below.
Mansi Zaveri
KSP Team
Janani S Koushik
