The Inspiring Journey of Tea Seller's Daughter from facing Struggles to receiving President's Plaque!

The daughter of a tea seller, Aanchal Gangwal is now a flying officer in the Indian Air Force. She proved to be a meritorious student at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal. She was awareded the President’s Plaque at the combined graduation on Saturday when 123 flight cadets graduated as officers of the Indian Air Force (IAF). 

Aanchal while speaking to The New Indian Express shared details about her journey. She recalled how her father, Suresh Gangwall has been running a small tea stall in Madhya Pradesh and has been striving hard to ensure that his daughters and son are comfortable and looked after. 

She told that she wanted to be in defence ever since she was a kid and she has always been a fighter. 

“Today as I become an officer, it still feels surreal. It is a dream come true. 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,” She expressed.

”But I am happy that they could see the ceremony on television. 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,” she added.

Aanchal is a graduate in Computer Science from Sitaram Jaju Government Girls College in Neemuch, MP and she worked as a sub- inspect in the MP Police Department and as a labour inspector in MP labour department for 8 months.