Parents wanted Meghana to become IAS officer

The parents of Meghana Shanbhough, who became the first woman fighter pilot from South India, wanted her to become an IAS officer. But she wanted to soar in the sky and finally, her dream has come true.

Meghana’s mother C V Shobha, who serves as the judge at the Udupi district consumer court, told DH that right from her days at Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar (class V to XII), she was keen on adventure activities like paragliding, mountaineering and trekking.

“When Meghana was in 2nd year BE in Information Science and Engineering at Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering in Mysuru, she had taken part in Himalayan mountaineering and she started ‘Sahas,’ a mountaineering club in the college after she returned,” Shobha said.

Soon after her BE, she left for Delhi to study for the civil service exam. She wrote the exam and the IAF test together and cleared the latter in her very first attempt. She was part of the 2017 batch of IAF pilots. Meghana’s father M K Ramesh is a practising advocate.

“Due to our profession (law/court), we used to return home very late and we were sad that we could not spend much time with our daughter and son,” her mother recalled. Both their children studied all by themselves.

Meghana’s younger brother Nirnay Shanbhough has just completed class 12 in Little Rock Indian School and got a seat at Symbiosis in Pune to pursue law. He is also awaiting CLAT results, Shobha said.

The management, principal and staff of Little Rock are overjoyed to learn about the achievement of Meghana and wished her a glorious career.

“Meghana was an NCC cadet, very disciplined and systematic. She always turned out in smart uniform. Ready to help anyone in need, she kept a dignified presence,” recalls Shalini R Pai, her NCC officer.

Sapna Rajesh, her English teacher, remembers Meghana as a simple, cheerful girl with grit and determination.

Her Biology teacher Bijily Mathews remembers her for her calm and composed persona with a good handwriting.

Meghana’s Physics teacher Everest Eprosommal recalls how serious-minded she was and how she spent much time in the library with Competition Success Review.