Jammu: Hailing from a remote village in north Kashmir’s border town of Uri, senior cadet captain Ulfat Khan of 1, Jammu and Kashmir Naval Unit NCC wants to follow the footsteps of her father and join the defence forces to serve the country.
Ulfat (21) created history by becoming the first-ever female cadet selected as parade commander at the Prime Minister’s Rally during the Republic Day camp, bringing laurels to the Union Territory.
She was a part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets who were felicitated by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhawan here on Monday after their return from New Delhi.
During the Republic Day camp, Ulfat’s performance earned her the prestigious title of the ‘Best Commander’ along with the ‘DG Commendation Medal Certificate’, highlighting her leadership qualities and dedication to service.
“It was an honour for me to be the guard commander of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is really a big thing for a girl who had come from a remote village and all credit for this goes to the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh directorate which polished my skills over the past three years,” Ulfat told PTI.
Daughter of Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), B A Khan, she said the experience of the Republic Day camp was “extraordinary”.
“We went there and faced selection for ‘Kartavya Path’, PM Rally and the Guard of Honour. I led as guard commander and everyone appreciated our work,” she said.
Selected from a pool of 2,274 NCC cadets from 28 states and Union Territories and from 17 directorates across the nation, Ulfat’s journey from a remote background to a national achiever is a testament to her determination and resilience.
Born in Baramulla district’s Uri in 2002, Ulfat pursued her schooling in various Kendriya Vidyalayas across Delhi, Jharkhand and Odisha before joining GCW Gandhinagar for her higher education. Her impressive array of NCC camps includes Nau Sainik Camp (NSC), Special National Integration Camps (SNIC), Mini Sailing, and Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC), where she honed her skills and leadership abilities.
“I am planning to join defence forces like my father to serve the country,” Ulfat, a resident of the Salamabad village of Uri, said, urging the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to have confidence and faith in themselves for becoming successful.
“This year, I am completing my graduation from the Government College for women, Gandhi Nagar (Jammu), and my three-year term with the NCC is also coming to an end. I will pursue my dream of becoming a soldier for the country,” she said.
