Agni Putri

Tessy Thomas, the project director for Agni IV and a senior scientist behind the launch of Agni V, is already back at work preparing for the Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles of Agni V that will make a second strike possible.R K Gupta was the project director for the Agni V just like Tessy was for Agni IV. Tessy also played a crucial role as project director (mission) for Agni V. When Agni V was test fired on April 19 at the Wheeler Island in Odisha, excited scientists lifted the top brass on their shoulders to celebrate the big event, though Tessy was left out.She may not have got that special treatment for Agni V, but when Agni IV was test fired successfully last year Tessy got her due.
For Agni V, Tessy had to look after the mission design, guidance, control, navigation and hardware. While missiles are what Tessy always has in mind, strange as it may sound, her parents had named her after Mother Teresa. Interestingly, Tessy hardly finds any difference in what Mother Teresa, whom she adores, did and her own work. Tessy joined the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a faculty member in guided missiles in 1987 with an ME degree in guided missiles. She became a part of the Inertial Navigation Group as a scientist in 1988 in Hyderabad. 
The missile woman, who is now referred to as ‘Agni putri’, has been a part of every Agni programme from the time developmental flights were being carried out 25 years ago. She designed the guidance schemes for long range missile system meant for Agni missiles. A lot of personal recognition has come Tessy Thomas’ way but the missile woman prefers to describe herself as an ordinary citizen.