Rukhsana Kausar

RUKHSANA KAUSAR – In the darkness of the night in the remote village of Kalsi, a young girl barely out of her teens, Rukhsana Kausar, was startled awake by a knock on the door. Her instincts, sharp as a razor, told her not to open it. Her intuition proved right, as it was a ploy by terrorists, who then forcefully entered by breaking a window.

She was quickly hidden under a cot, but when the three intruders began attacking her family and inquiring about her whereabouts, she sprang into action. With courage akin to a tigress, she emerged from her hiding spot and fought back against the militants. Despite only having a 10th-grade education, her bravery was recognized with the prestigious India National Bravery Award for her fearless act of killing a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant leader in her home, using an axe and an AK47 rifle. Her younger brother, Aijaz, also played a crucial role in helping her chase the militants and contact the police.

She stands as a shining example of ‘Stree Shakti’ – the power and strength of women.