Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | October 01, 2025

From Haridwar to the Heavens

From the spiritual city of Haridwar to the icy heights of Siachen, the journey of Squadron Leader Neha Rathi (Retd) is one of courage and trailblazing achievement. A Pantnagar University graduate in Electrical Engineering, she chose a path less travelled for women in her time, joining the Indian Air Force as a Technical Officer in the Rotary Wing.

Her career soared, placing her in historic and demanding roles. She was one of the few women officers to be posted in Jammu and Kashmir. There, she took part in ‘Op Meghdoot’ in the Siachen Glacier in 2015. On the Western Front, she managed the logistics for over 100 aircraft, proof of her leadership and technical expertise. After a distinguished decade of service, she retired in January 2024.

A Top Gun Romance

Her story, however, isn’t just about professional grit. It’s also a real-life romance that rivals the magic of the movies. While Tom Cruise’s Maverick was busy sweeping flight instructor Charlie Blackwood (played by Kelly McGillis) off her feet, a similar, more authentic love story was unfolding. Squadron Leader Rathi is married to Squadron Leader Diptanshu Gupta, a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force. Their passion for aviation brought them together. They created a love story where two air warriors navigate the skies and life side-by-side.

Opening Doorz recently spoke with Squadron Leader Neha Rathi (Retd), a trailblazing woman officer and a mother of two daughters, who now lives in Nagaland and is charting a new course after her decade-long career in the Indian Air Force.

Excerpts:

Your story has a Top Gun feel… Kelly McGillis (Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood) and Tom Cruise (Pete “Maverick” Mitchell). Did you two at any time draw comparison or think of this on-screen romance as yours was brewing?

As our relationship took off, we never thought of ourselves as the real-life counterparts of Maverick and Charlie from Top Gun. However, when we did our pre-wedding shoot, we were amused to find that many people were drawing parallels between us and the on-screen duo. We’d come across our photos on social media with captions that echoed the iconic romance. What’s more, when I reached out to the page admins to request they take down the posts, they’d cheekily respond that they saw no reason to, given the flattering comparison! I guess, our love story, much like theirs, was one for the skies.

How did you and Diptanshu meet and when did you decide to get married… I mean after how many years of courting?

Our love story is a beautiful blend of chance and fate. We met during training, but it was six months of parallel paths without a single interaction. The real magic unfolded over the next two years, when distance became the test of our bond. I was stationed in Srinagar, while he was in Dibrugarh, 3100 km apart. Yet, we found solace in handwritten letters, penned with love and anticipation. Phone calls were a rare luxury, given the limited connectivity, but every conversation was cherished. Those letters and fleeting moments are etched in my memory forever. They remind me of the love that grew despite the distance.

As fellow Indian Air Force personnel, we knew the challenges of our profession, but our love became the anchor that held us together. And when the time was right, after two years of courting, we took the leap, promising to love and support each other through life’s adventures.

What are some key lessons you learned during your decade-long tenure in the Indian Air Force?

During my decade of service in the Indian Air Force as a technical officer, I learned valuable lessons while managing critical helicopter maintenance in high-altitude and high-stress conditions. These experiences not only honed my technical expertise but also taught me that effective leadership demands composure, foresight, and the ability to unify a team toward a common goal.

For me, networking has never been about collecting contacts, but about building purposeful relationships that enable collaboration and shared achievement. One of the most important lesson I would like to highlight here which fauj has taught me: “The only person who can change you for good or bad is ‘YOU’. If you have complete control on yourself no power can shake you.”

You served as one of the few women officers in Siachen Glacier during Op Meghdoot. Can you share what that experience was like, both professionally and personally?

My experience serving in Operation Meghdoot, one of the most challenging missions in the Indian Armed Forces, was truly transformative. As one of the pioneering women officers in the Air Force to be stationed in Srinagar during those early years, I was humbled by the opportunity to serve in such a critical role. The experience pushed me to my limits, testing my physical and mental endurance in ways I never thought possible. Yet, it was exhilarating to discover that neither the aircraft I worked on nor the men I led judged my capabilities based on my gender. Instead, it was a level playing field where merit and dedication were the only currencies that mattered.

On a personal level, serving in such a unique and breathtaking environment was a privilege. I cherish the lifelong bonds I formed with my colleagues, the camaraderie we shared, and the memories we created together. We trekked through the rugged terrain. We played evening games and cycled through the picturesque landscapes. And then, there were the quiet moments. I would sit on the runway at night and gaze up at the star-studded sky. I engaged in deep conversations with my seniors and course mates. We talked about life, our dreams, and aspirations. Those nights under the clear valley sky remain etched in my memory forever.

How would you like your story to inspire not just young girls, but anyone aspiring to make a difference in challenging fields?

My journey taught me that true inspiration comes from consistent, deliberate action. I want my story to inspire people. They should embrace the “grind” and understand that hard work is the only true shortcut to success. It might take time, but if you keep at it, things will eventually fall into place.

Never stop dreaming, because dreams do come true, but they need you to be a lifelong learner. In today’s rapidly changing world, technology is constantly evolving, so it’s essential to continually scale up and stay relevant. My biggest takeaway is this: strive to become irreplaceable in your field. Don’t be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Instead, find what you’re passionate about. Become a master of it. Continue to evolve continuously to stay at the top of your game.

High-Stakes Role: As a technical officer, Squadron Leader Neha Rathi managed the logistics for over 100 aircrafts on the Western Front. She was one of the few women officers stationed in Srinagar. There, she participated in Op Meghdoot in the Siachen Glacier in 2015.

Lessons from the Fauj: Her career taught her key lessons. These include the importance of composure and building purposeful relationships. Another powerful insight is that "The only person who can change you for good or bad is ‘YOU'".

An Inspiration: Squadron Leader Neha Rathi hopes her story inspires others to embrace hard work. She encourages them to continuously scale up. 

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