Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Guest of honor for this year’s Bastille Day Parade at France’s capital on July 14. The invitation of a foreign leader is a mark of great respect as the mostly nationalistic observance in France doesn’t have too many foreign dignitaries. This time a Indian Air Force(IAF) Contingent will also participate in the celebration parade of France’s National day.
Indian Air Force officer Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy will lead the IAF’s 68-member marching contingent at the event. This responsibility has been handed down to her as a part of IAF’s Nari Shakti’ programme. The IAF Rafael jets will fly along with French Rafael’s over the iconic Champs Elysees in Paris.
Bastille Day Parade
The day is also celebrated as the France’s National Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be second Indian Prime Minister to attend the event as Manmohan Singh was a part of Bastille Day parade in 2009. A 269-member contingent of the Indian armed forces has already reached Paris for the celebration in Paris . The Indian troops of the British Indian Army had participated in French resistance against Germany in both world wars. “Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war and almost 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches to never return, while another 67,000 were wounded,” the Army said in a statement.
The celebration is associated with the storming of Bastille , the imperial weaponry by French citizens against Monarchical rule of Louis XVI. The day is one of the most important uprisings of the French Revolution.
Who is Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy?
The squadron leader has been a member of prestigious Indian Air Force for a period of over 9 years. She is a helicopter pilot and is assigned to fly Mi-17 helicopter. She previously led the Republic Day celebrations parade in 2023 of a 144 IAF member contingent. She had participated in the 2018 Republic Day as an IAF contingent.
Speaking of her journey she said that she had always wanted to fly. Her father always encouraged her and ensured her selection in NCC in college which has been a big motivating factor for her.
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