Arthy Ramu cheerfully admits to dreaming about aviation from early childhood. “I have always believed that you should not be one among the crowd, and should do something different so that people will notice you,” says Arthy, who aspires to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
And to prove that her ambition isn’t a mere flight of fancy, Tiruchi-born Arthy, who is doing her final year BSc Physics at PSG R Krishnammal College in Coimbatore, has laid the foundation for realising her goals by being an active member of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
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Early last year, Arthy won the bronze medal for the All India Best NCC Cadet (out of 105 competitors) at the national level Republic Day camp held in New Delhi, an honour that further paved the way for her to represent the country at the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) in Bhutan from December 13-19.
Currently ranked as a Senior Under Officer of the Air Squadron of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar directorate of the NCC, Arthy was one of 12 cadets who formed the YEP delegation and the only girl from southern India of the six male and six female cadets accompanied by two officers.
“I had met some of the cadets earlier, but we got time to bond together at an orientation camp in Delhi before our departure, so it was a nice experience for all of us,” says Arthy.
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Learning from Bhutan
The YEP is an annual initiative of the NCC which helps cadets to meet youth leaders from other countries and foster mutual understanding between the host nations and India.
For 19-year-old Arthy, the visit opened her eyes to Bhutan’s emphasis on mental equilibrium and peace. “Bhutan is known as the happiest country in the world, because the authorities there stress on the ‘Gross National Happiness’ index rather than Gross Domestic Product,” says Arthy. “I felt we in India could learn to be less materialistic and love nature like the Bhutanese.”
During the four-day tour, the YEP delegates met the Bhutanese Minister of Education Jai Bir Rai, Deputy Chief Operational Officer of Royal Bhutan Army, Brigadier Dorji Wangchuck, Indian Ambassador Jaideep Sarkar, and also visited the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Thimpu.
A hike to the cliff-side temple complex Taktshang (also known as Tiger's Nest Monastery), built in 1692 and a day trip to the former administrative capital Punakha Dzong were among the highlights of the YEP agenda.
The visit concluded with the delegates attending the 111th National Day celebration at Changlimithang Stadium on December 17.
As she gets ready to resume her studies in Coimbatore, Arthy has fond memories of her first international trip as an NCC cadet. “The Bhutanese people are very hospitable, and they hold India and Indians in high regard. We got to sample their national dish Ema Datshi, which is a spicy stew made of chili peppers, onions and locally produced yak cheese. And there was a steady supply of tea and jalebi wherever we went!”
Aiming high
A cadet from Class 8 at Tiruchi’s St Joseph’s Anglo-Indian Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Arthy credits the NCC for helping her find new horizons.
“In school, I used to be a very shy person. NCC has given me the confidence to interact with others and to try out new things,” she says.
Upon graduation, Arthy will be appearing for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) to qualify as a fighter pilot. Sounding wise beyond her years, she says, “The armed forces have been a male-dominated sector in all these years. But since 2016, the IAF has allowed women to don the pilot uniform and fly fighter jets. I think men and women are equal, and they should be allowed to take up these posts and challenge each other.”
Her choice of Physics is also geared towards her ultimate goal: “I opted to study in Coimbatore, where NCC has an Air Squadron, unlike Tiruchi, which has a Technical Squadron. Studying Physics will help me to understand aviation when I join the Air Force,” she says.
Having already undertaken two supervised sorties in a microlight aircraft, Arthy, who credits her supportive family as her biggest strength, is aiming for the skies.