Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi Breaks Barriers as First Female ADC to a Governor

Squadron Leader Manisha Padhi has achieved a groundbreaking milestone as the first female military officer appointed as an Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to a governor, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment.

According to sources within the Mizoram Governor’s office, Sqn Leader Manisha Padhi, an officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from the 2015 batch, serves as the ADC to Mizoram Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) provided the list, which included the names of two additional male officers.

Sqn Leader Padhi has shattered gender preconceptions and excelled in various fields, making her appointment a historic turning point. Governor Kambhampati expressed his joy, stating, “Let us celebrate this remarkable achievement and continue our advocacy for women’s empowerment in all domains.”

The role of an ADC, the governor’s personal assistant with constitutional powers, remains intact even during official travels. Each governor is accompanied by an armed forces member and a police officer as their ADCs. In Mizoram, the second ADC is Zonun Thara, a state police officer.

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Sqn Leader Padhi’s prior postings in the administrative arm of the Indian Air Force include Air Force Stations Bidar, Pune, and Bhatinda.

Hailing from Berhampur in Odisha’s Ganjam area, Padhi, a second-generation officer, draws inspiration from her father, Manoranjan Padhi, an honorary flying officer who retired in 2020. Manoranjan Padhi emphasized the significance of his daughter’s achievement, having successfully navigated a rigorous screening process.

Addressing the question of why she chose this path, Manoranjan mentioned that his daughter displayed fearlessness when confronted with challenges. He proudly shared that his daughter, Manjira, chose a career in the Indian Air Force, while his son pursued a civilian life and is currently employed in the Netherlands.

After graduating from Bhubaneswar’s CV Raman College of Engineering and passing the Air Force Common Admission Test in 2015, Padhi was commissioned into the Indian Air Force. Manoranjan shared that Depak Singh Karki, a Major in the Indian Army posted in Punjab, is Padhi’s relative residing in Bhubaneshwar.

Before her current assignment, Squadron Leader Padhi served at Air Force installations in Bidar, Pune, and Bhatinda.

In India, the title of Aide-de-Camp is esteemed, and individuals who have served in this role, both current and former, are designated with post-nominal letters ADC. The president is assigned five aides-de-camp, three from the Army, and one each from the Navy and the Air Force. Additionally, there is one honorary aide-de-camp in the Territorial Army.

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Manisha Padhi’s mother shared that her daughter harbored early aspirations of emulating her parents and becoming an Air Force officer. As a young girl, she would imitate her father, dressing like him and practicing applying cosmetics in front of the mirror.

Her mother expressed fulfillment in seeing her daughter realize her long-held dream of joining the Indian Air Force. Despite societal discouragement faced by some, Manoranjan emphasized the importance of encouraging women to pursue career goals.