The first thing that strikes you about Wing Commander Sujata Tiwari is her pleasant ways. She is charming and there's a sense of pride writ large on her face.
Why not? For she is one of the most sought-after commentators in the defence circuit. Her narration matches the speedy knots woven by military aircraft and the mind boggling stunts performed by aerobatic teams.
Sujata was commissioned as an officer in the Indian Air Force in 1999 and her interest in quizzing got her hooked to live commentary. She recalls that her first live commentary was for a national youth festival in Bhopal. Soon, she was asked to be the commentator for the 'JRD Tata Centenary Air Show' at Mumbai, fire power demonstration at Pokhran, two aero shows etc.
Sujata is now posted at the Air Force Academy as an instructor/directing staff, training and nurturing the cadets. She feels that commentary for an aero show is no easy task. "You just don't have the time to think. Your commentary must synchronise and you must have your eyes set on the ground and in the skies. You can't afford to lose focus. The technicalities are a challenge and the commentary is a battle of minutes and seconds," Sujata says.
She always had a weakness for planes and confesses that she grew up in the cockpit. "The cockpit is my favourite place," she adds.
While she extensively prepares before every show, it always demands some extra hours. "There are a lot of technical details that you just can't mess up about. I admire the Surya Kiran, Su-30 MKI and the 'Flying Bulls' are cute, " she shares. And it's indeed challenging to prove her mettle as a woman. "I think that challenge is there at every level. A woman has to work extra hard to prove her worth. I believe that the work must speak for itself and there is no shortcut to success," she sums up.
Why not? For she is one of the most sought-after commentators in the defence circuit. Her narration matches the speedy knots woven by military aircraft and the mind boggling stunts performed by aerobatic teams.
Sujata was commissioned as an officer in the Indian Air Force in 1999 and her interest in quizzing got her hooked to live commentary. She recalls that her first live commentary was for a national youth festival in Bhopal. Soon, she was asked to be the commentator for the 'JRD Tata Centenary Air Show' at Mumbai, fire power demonstration at Pokhran, two aero shows etc.
Sujata is now posted at the Air Force Academy as an instructor/directing staff, training and nurturing the cadets. She feels that commentary for an aero show is no easy task. "You just don't have the time to think. Your commentary must synchronise and you must have your eyes set on the ground and in the skies. You can't afford to lose focus. The technicalities are a challenge and the commentary is a battle of minutes and seconds," Sujata says.
She always had a weakness for planes and confesses that she grew up in the cockpit. "The cockpit is my favourite place," she adds.
While she extensively prepares before every show, it always demands some extra hours. "There are a lot of technical details that you just can't mess up about. I admire the Surya Kiran, Su-30 MKI and the 'Flying Bulls' are cute, " she shares. And it's indeed challenging to prove her mettle as a woman. "I think that challenge is there at every level. A woman has to work extra hard to prove her worth. I believe that the work must speak for itself and there is no shortcut to success," she sums up.