This uniform gives you jazbaa: Col Sofiya Qureshi

Long before Colonel Sofiya Qureshi became a household name during the Operation Sindoor press briefings, she was quietly shaping futures.
In 2021, during the lockdown, Qureshi participated in a counselling session hosted by the West Bengal Minority Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC). It was a virtual session meant for both boys and girls, but the moderator mentioned something that made Qureshi beam with pride – more girls had signed up for
CDS (Combined Defence Services) coaching than before.
During the YouTube session, which was recently shared by the WBMDFC, Col Qureshi is seen discussing the path to cracking the CDS exam, getting an NCC certificate, and preparing for a life in the armed forces – especially encouraging young women to dream bigger, aim higher, and believe they belonged. Here are some of the highlights of the video, which
has now acquired a life of its own, for all the right reasons.

A couplet and a challenge
As the session came to a close, Qureshi signed off with poetry. Not just as a flourish, but as a nudge to rise above fear, limitations and doubt:
“Yun hi nahi milti, raahi ko manzil,
Ik junoon sa dil mein jagana hota hai.
Poocha chidiya se, kaise bana aashiyana,
Boli — bharni padti hai udaan baar baar,
Tinka tinka uthana hota hai.”
You could read this as a mission brief for any girl wondering if she’s got what it takes. Spoiler: She does.

Quotes:
There is nothing better than devoting our life to the nation. Don’t let people discourage you. If you want to wear the uniform, work for it. Be confident in whatever you decide

I was a normal girl when I joined the army. But mere mein ek jazbaa tha, jiski wajah se maine yeh uniform pehna... Army is a way of life. It keeps you fit. It gives you discipline. This uniform gives you jazbaa

I wanted to be a scientist. But I also had a dream of wearing the uniform – because I come from an army family – Col Qureshi at the 2021 counselling session