Daijiworld Media Network - Gadag

Gadag, Aug 18: Colonel Spoorthi Kulkarni, hailing from Hombal village in Gadag district, has achieved a historic milestone in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). She has made the state proud by becoming the first woman commander of the 45 Task Force under BRO's 'Project Chetak'.

Born on May 26, 1989, Spoorthi is the eldest daughter of Ranganath Kulkarni and Geetha. Her younger sister, Sampritha Kulkarni, is also serving in the Indian Army as a major. Proving that neither a rural background nor gender can hinder success, she has become an inspiration to young women across the country through her dedication, courage, and determination.

Spoorthi completed her primary and high school education at Tontadarya, St John's, and Vidyadana schools in Gadag. Following the demise of her mother in 2003, her father raised the children as a single parent. She completed her pre-university education in Pune and earned a civil engineering degree from Bagalkot. After successfully clearing the SSB exam, she joined the Indian Army as a lieutenant in 2011.

She is currently entrusted with the crucial responsibility of developing and maintaining strategic road connectivity along India's western borders.

Expressing his joy, her father stated, “She bears the significant responsibility of developing and maintaining strategic road networks on the western border. It is a matter of immense pride for our district that she has become the first woman officer to command a BRO task force.”

In recent times, the BRO has increasingly entrusted women officers with frontline operational responsibilities. Earlier this year, colonel Shikha Bhadauria took command of the 32 BRTF under 'Project Beacon' in north Kashmir. With her new appointment on the western border, colonel Spoorthi Kulkarni now joins this distinguished league.