Prakashi Tomar (born 1 January 1937)[1] is an Indian sharpshooter from Johri village of Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district. She is one of the oldest sharpshooters in the world.[2] She is an icon in the world of shooting.[3][4][5][6]

Prakashi Tomar
Born1 January 1937 (1937-01) (age 87)
Nationality India
Other namesRevolver Dadi (Revolver Grandma)
CitizenshipIndian
OccupationSharpshooter
Prakashi Tomar
Sport
Country India
Updated on 30 December 2018

Personal life

edit

Prakashi Tomar was born in a Hindu family. She was married to Jai Singh, and their daughter, Seema Tomar, is an international shooter at present.[7][8] She is the sister in law of Chandro Tomar. Her granddaughter, Ruby, is deputed as an inspector in Punjab Police, while her second daughter, Rekha, retired as a shooter.[9] She lives in Johri village with her family, and has eight children and twenty grandchildren.[6]

Career

edit

Her career began in 1999 at the age of 62. Her daughter, Seema Tomar, joined the Johri Rifle Club but was hesitant to go alone. Tomar decided to accompany her to the academy as an encouragement.[10][11] At the academy, coach Farooq Pathan and others were shocked when she shot the target skillfully while trying to show Seema how to hold the gun. Pathan advised her to join the academy, and she has since won over 25 national and international championships.[12]

After two years of training, she entered a competition in which she had to compete against the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Delhi Police, Dheeraj Singh. Tomar won the competition but the DIG refused to be photographed with her, and commented: "What photograph, I have been humiliated by a woman."[13]

Achievements

edit

During her career, she received many awards, medal and trophies, along with social honours and the Stree Shakti Puraskar award conferred by then President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Tomar was selected in the #100Women_Achievers in India campaign launched in collaboration with Facebook, recognizing women who have contributed to their community and nation building.[14] As such, Tomar was felicitated by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 22 January 2016. She was also felicitated with the Icon Lady award by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2017.[15]

edit

See also

edit
  • Chandro Tomar, the formerly oldest female shooter from the same village

References

edit
  1. ^ Hindustan Times (5 March 2015). "The gunslinger grannies of Uttar Pradesh are defying age and convention". Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  2. ^ Carter, Angie (25 September 2016). "Placeholders and Changemakers: Women Farmland Owners Navigating Gendered Expectations". Rural Sociology. 82 (3): 499–523. doi:10.1111/ruso.12131. ISSN 0036-0112.
  3. ^ Times of India. "76-year-old 'super mom' keeps shooter Seema Tomar going". Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  4. ^ Yoithen News. "'तोमर दादियों' के आगे फेल हैं सारे शूटर". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. ^ Revolver Dadi
  6. ^ a b Shoot - its the revolver ranis, thehindubusinessline.com.
  7. ^ Dainik Bhaskar (17 October 2016). "इंडियन आर्मी ने यहां के 21 शूटरों को किया इंवाइट ..." Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. ^ लाइव हिंदुस्तान. "यूपी के इस घर में दादी प्रकाशी तोमर से लेकर पोती तक सब हैं शूटर". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  9. ^ The Hindu Business Line. "Shoot, it's the revolver ranis". Retrieved 11 August 2017. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Amar Ujala. "लखनऊ पहुंची शूटर दादी, बताया कैसे एक छोटी घटना ने बदल दी जिंदगी". Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Closeted Conversations: Pooja Bhatt to Revolver Dadi – women changemakers spill secrets of the heart". The Indian Express. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  12. ^ Nayi Duniya (25 January 2016). "पहली बार राजपथ पर परेड देखने आएंगी "रिवॉल्वर दादी"". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Watch: Chandro Tomar aka "Revolver Daadi" breaks stereotypes". The Siasat Daily. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  14. ^ Service, Indo-Asian News (11 September 2015). "Nominate 100 women achievers on Facebook". India.com. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  15. ^ The Citizen. "The Talented, Lovely Women of Uttar Pradesh!". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar to Play World's Oldest Sharpshooters Chandro Tomar & Prakashi Tomar". News18. Retrieved 11 July 2019.