Gadag: Colonel Spurthi Kulkarni, who hails from Hombal village near Gadag, has brought pride to Karnataka by becoming the first woman Army officer to command the 45th Task Force of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Her achievement is being celebrated as an inspiring example of how determination, education and courage can help overcome barriers of gender and rural background.
From a small village to a historic role
Born on May 26, 1989, Spurthi is the eldest daughter of Ranganath Kulkarni and Geeta. She completed her early education at Tontadarya, St John’s and Vidyadana schools in Gadag before pursuing her PUC education in Pune.
She later completed a civil engineering degree in Bagalkot and joined the Indian Army as a lieutenant in 2011 after clearing the Services Selection Board (SSB) examination.
Family support shaped her journey
Spurthi faced personal challenges early in life after losing her mother in 2003. Her father, Ranganath Kulkarni, raised the family as a single parent and supported his daughters’ ambitions.
Her younger sister, Sampreeta Kulkarni, is also serving in the Indian Army as a Major, making the family’s connection with the armed forces particularly significant.
Leading vital border infrastructure work
As commander of the BRO’s 45th Task Force, Colonel Spurthi is responsible for important work involving the development and maintenance of strategic road connectivity along India’s western border.
Her new responsibility places her at the intersection of military operations, engineering and infrastructure development in strategically important areas.
Her achievement is particularly significant for young women from rural communities who aspire to enter the armed forces or pursue careers traditionally viewed as male-dominated.
Colonel Spurthi’s journey from a village in Gadag to a senior leadership position in the BRO stands as a powerful reminder that where one comes from need not determine how far one can go.