Indian Of The Year Award 2025: Lt Col Roopa, Lt Col Dilna K Win CNN-News18's Youth Icon Award For Historic Voyage

Lt Cdr Roopa A and Lt Cdr Dilna K have received the News18 Youth Icon Award for completing a historic circumnavigation as the first Indian duo to sail around the globe in double-handed mode aboard INSV Tarini under the Navika Sagar Parikarma II mission.

In May 2025, Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa Alagirisamy scripted maritime history after completing a nearly 250-day voyage aboard INSV Tarini, covering 25,400 nautical miles (50,000 km), crossing four continents, three oceans, and three Great Capes. They are the first Indian duo to circumnavigate the globe in double-handed mode.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Col Roopa said, “We never felt there was going back during this journey. We always felt we could do it. There was one point where

we realised this journey was beyond us and we are the only people in the world who did circumnavigation not once, but four times.”

“For us, this journey was not about 238 days. We trained for three years. The Indian Navy prepared us for three years before we set out for this voyage. The long isolation was there, especially in the Pacific,” said Lt Col Roopa A. “The best equipment onboard was teamwork, which is why we achieved success in this work.”

Praise From PM Modi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the flag-in ceremony in May, formally marking the success of the global circumnavigation. He received the two naval officers and said that they had made the nation proud by waving the Tricolour across the world.

This historic accomplishment was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 126th episode of Mann Ki Baat. “The brave Navy women personnel have successfully completed a voyage of oceans spanning 250 days. They visited all around the world. They did it on such a boat that does not run via motors but uses wind,” he said.

“We all know the storm in the oceans. The two daughters defeated all troubles like bad weather and storms of the oceans. This shows that no matter how big the challenge may be, Indian women can emerge victorious,” he added.

Who Is Lt Col Dilna K?

Lt Commander Dilna K hails from Kerala’s Kozhikode. Her father was also an Army officer. Even from a young age, she showed exceptional courage and determination. She also excelled in national-level rifle shooting through the National Cadet Corps (NCC). She was commissioned into the Indian Navy’s Logistics branch in June 2014.

Who Is Lt Col Roopa A?

Lt Commander Roopa A is from Pondicherry. She joined the Indian Navy in June 2017. She initially pursued aeronautical engineering at Anna University and worked at the National Aerospace Laboratories in Bengaluru. She became part of the Naval Armament Inspection Division.

CNN-News18’s Indian of the Year 2025

The 15th edition of the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year was held on Friday (November 28), as it continues to celebrate individuals whose grit, vision and accomplishments have helped shape India’s evolving story.

The 2025 edition, themed ‘India’s Invincible Icons’, pays tribute to changemakers who embody courage, perseverance and an unwavering spirit, figures who stand as powerful symbols of progress in a rapidly transforming India.