Power Couples on Kartavya Path
This Republic Day, we’re not celebrating the country’s accomplishments but also the stories of couples in the Forces. There is a quiet power in being able to balance your passion for your career and the love for your family and couples serving in the Indian Armed Forces are proudly following that.
Let’s look at these beautiful stories of the real “power couples” closely. Because what’s more romantic than watching a defence couple marching together in the Republic Day parade?
Air Marshal K P Nair and Air Marshal Sadhna Saxena Nair
Divine love meets national duty – that is the core of this couple. Both the Mrs. and the Mr. have made history in the Indian Air Force as the first and only husband-wife duo to both attain the three-star rank of Air Marshal. It’s a partnership that has blossomed amidst the challenges of confronting services and taking care of the family.
When the whole world was exchanging texts online, this power couple was making history in the Indian Air Force. Sadhan Nair was commissioned into the IAF’s medical branch in 1985 and was promoted to become Director-General of Hospital Services.
She is the second woman officer to be promoted to Air Marshal after serving continuously in the Air Force. On the other hand, her husband, a retired fighter pilot who previously served as the IAF’s Director-General of Inspection and Flight Safety, has contributed to the legacy of service that spans generations.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi
Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi share a bond shaped by service and strength. One of the most powerful couples serving in the Indian armed forces, they believe in harmony and mutual respect for roles and responsibilities in uniform.
Sophia is known as one of the faces of Operation Sindoor. In 2015, she married Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi, a native of Konnur village in Belagavi district, Karnataka; both continue to serve, with Sofia posted in Jammu and Tajuddin in Jhansi.
She has often expressed her gratitude towards Tajuddin who encouraged her to be resilient in a male-dominated space. Today, they both are happily serving the army and raising a proud son.
Colonel Tashi Thapliyal (Corps of Signals) and Colonel Arjun Ganpathi (Mechanised Infantry)
Service, for Col Tashi Thapiyal,VSM, was never a question of choice, as it was in her blood. She was born into a family where the uniform was a symbol of duty and discipline. A pass out from OTA, Chennai, she has also trained in Kazakhstan. She is currently commanding a Signals Unit.
Col Thapliyal married into a family that carried the same values and her husband, Col Arjun Ganpathi, proudly held her hand through her journey into the Indian Army.
“My husband, who is also commanding, comes from a family with three generations in the armed forces. So leadership, discipline and pride in the family are what drew me to join the armed forces. My family was very supportive. They saw my decision as a very honourable step. And to date, they keep encouraging me to serve with honour and dignity,” she shared during an interview with Ground Zero.
Lieutenant Commander Sadhana Giri and Commander Shubhodeep Bhattacharjee
Patriotism and relationships can go hand in hand and Lieutenant Commander Sadhana Giri and Commander Shubodeep Bhattacharjee have proved this. The love story has crossed oceans and odds, with Sadhana serving as an Air Traffic Control officer in the aviation wing of the Navy while Shubodeep was a sailor.
Their marriage was not only a collaboration between two armed forces but also a union of culture and community. The work discipline continued as they continued their personal lives – there were times when Sadhana had to lock her daughter at home while her husband was away at sea.
Sadhana retired from the Navy in 2017, while Shubhodeep continues to serve. Looking back, she remembers their early days of courtship with tenderness, where love remained despite duty and distance.
Major Anita Rathore and Major Kislay Rathore
Popularly known as the “uniformed couple”, this duo serves in the Indian Army. Romantic songs, date nights and bouquets were replaced with active postings, field areas and operational responsibilities. But they figured out a way to blend old-school love with modern life.
An arranged setup in 2014 by their parents, they were posted in the same area when they first met. There was a time Anita was posted in Bangalore and came to see Kislay at the airport in a saree, which left him quite amused.
Their duty towards the nation taught them how to survive in tough situations even while they were apart. There were times when the only source of communication they had was a satellite phone and amidst all this and a severe pandemic, they managed to raise two beautiful kids.
Maj Sarabjeet Singh (Sikh Regiment) and Asst Comdt Chunauti Sharma (Coast Guard)
Maj. Sarabjeet Singh and Asst Commandant Chunati Sharma are bound by a shared commitment to the nation. Their married life goes beyond the household duties as their sacrifices reflect duty and resilience.
The proud participants in the Republic Day 2024 parade, this couple hails from Rajasthan and are former National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets.
“This Republic Day parade holds a special meaning for me since my better half, my husband, is also participating. He is leading the Sikh contingent. So, this opportunity to serve the nation is very special for both of us,” said Asst Comdt Chunauti Sharma as she prepared for the parade.
Captain Supreetha CT (Corps of Military Police) and Maj Jerry Blaize (Madras Regiment)
Known as the first Army couple to participate together in the Republic Day, where Major led the Madras regiment and Captain led the Tri Services women’s contingent.
They served true couple goals as they marched down the Kartavya Path. Together, the power duo has broken many barriers and conquered multiple challenges.
With the loving support of her husband, Captain Supreetha CT made history and joined the league of the #SiachenWarriors – becoming the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed at the highest battlefield.
Uniformed love stories are ones that have faced the toughest battles – communication barriers, physical distance and the load of the nation’s duty. While military weddings in India are not uncommon, they are often overlooked.
At Wedding Asia, we salute the love stories of officers and soldiers who have taught us to endure love despite the challenges and distance. Jai Hind!
