The 17th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan, has kicked off with a powerful start, and its Independence Day episode turned out to be truly historic.
On August 15, three trailblazing women officers from the Indian Armed Forces - Colonel Sophia Qureshi from the Indian Army, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force, and Commander Prerna Deosthalee from the Indian Navy - graced the hot seat and played the game exceptionally well.
These officers, who were part of India's Operation Sindoor, not only shared stories of their courage and service to the nation but also played the quiz brilliantly, winning Rs 25 lakh.
Their journey advanced to the Rs 50 lakh question, but the time-out buzzer forced the game to end before they could attempt it.
The last question they answered for Rs 25 lakh was:
"The 'Arch of Remembrance' in Leicester, England, was designed by the same person who also designed which of these Indian monuments?"
The options given were:
A) Victoria Memorial
B) Gateway of India
C) Fort St. George
D) India Gate
Though initially confused, the trio used the Audience Poll lifeline to lock in the correct answer, which was India Gate. The monument, Leicester's Arch of Remembrance, was designed by celebrated British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
While the three officers could not attempt the Rs 50 lakh question, their Rs 25 lakh win marked a new milestone for KBC. For the first time in the show’s history, not one but three women officers of the Armed Forces came together on the hot seat, inspiring millions of viewers with their bravery and words on women empowerment and the evolving role of women in the military.
Towards the end of the show, the officers announced that the prize money will be donated to welfare funds associated with their respective institutions.
During their appearance, the officers shared interesting details about Operation Sindoor, a mission carried out in the early hours of May 7 targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
However, when the promo of the episode was shared by the makers a few days back, a section of social media users accused the forces of being used for politics and entertainment questioned how such TV appearances are allowed after a military operation.
About Colonel Sofiya, Wing Commander Vyomika, and Commander Prerna
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi from the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force, became the official voice of India's Operation Sindoor, after they briefed the media and nation in the first press conference post Operation Sindoor.
Their presence and statements did not just highlight the details of India's brave Operation Sindoor, but also gave a glimpse of the rising strength of women in the armed forces.
On the other hand, Commander Prerna Deosthalee became the first ever woman officer to be handed over the command of a warship in the Indian Navy in 2024.
