GIRLS  ARE IN THE ARMY NOW……….

  Circa 1992, girls were inducted into various branches of the services as officers cadets for a short commission into non-combat roles,  a breakthrough. There was vigour in the air, highly charged and motivated atmosphere made me ask my classmates to get me a form too. But upon hearing about the level of fitness required to pass the exam, I changed my mind. Destiny had a different way of getting me affiliated with the services as I joined the tribe as an army wife. 

Shakti, a manifestation of female energy, defines their strength. There is a sense of victory with the many windows open to women to be part of the services in our country, a win towards equality in the workforce. Permanent commission, entry as soldiers in the Military Police and opening of the doors to the National Defence Academy as cadets is a long drawn-out path towards gender parity in the military in India. They draw their strength from history from Jhansi ki Rani and Capt Laxmi Sehgal, thus proving the strength of the so-called weaker sex. They are now fighter pilots, combat officers and in command positions apart from holding technical appointments. 

The steadfast effort to boost the representation paid off when Shanan Dhaka, daughter of Naib Subedar topped the first women’s batch for NDA exams inspiring more of her tribe. The recent case of Priya Dhaka, daughter of a jawan, who cleared the SSB for NDA shows the sheer determination of the girl coming from a small village in Jhunjhunu from Rajasthan. There is nothing stopping you if you make up your mind to do anything in life. Girl cadets are getting trained in academics and outdoor training is conducted with minimum changes in the existing curriculum of the NDA. The two schools of thought remain, one professing that women officers are on a par with male officers and the other against combat roles as they feel that the women are not physically and psychologically fit to perform the job. 

Fighter pilot Lt Ananya Sharma, daughter of fighter pilot Air Commodore Sanjay Sharma, took part in the Republic Day parade this year is another example of how girls can achieve anything they desire in life. The Father-daughter duo created history when they flew in the same formation of Hawk-132 aircraft in Bidar in 2022 thus cementing their unique place in the aviation history of the country. Colonel Geeta Rana of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers has become the first woman officer to take over command of an independent field workshop in the Eastern Ladakh sector marking the thirty years of commissioned women officers in the forces. 

These high-flying women do include the war widows, Veer Naris, who along with fighting their own battle of loss and pain, decide to join the services themselves. For Veer Nari, the decision to join the services while waking up to the new reality of being both the father and mother to her children, is an act of bravery which has no equal. Swati Mahadik, wife of late Colonel Santosh Mahadik who was martyred in J and K, is one such brave heart who resolved to be part of the army while dealing with her trauma. She showed exemplary courage and strength in the face of loss and reinforced the thought that there is no stopping when one makes up one’s mind to do anything. On commissioning, calming her storm with a peaceful smile, Swati Mahadik stood proudly donning the olive green uniform ready to take her journey as an army officer while her small children and mother smiled in admiration at the grit and determination of this young lady. Her journey was not an easy one. She took up her husband’s dream and made it her own. She is following in his footsteps and making him proud of her. 

Women joining the Core of Military police as soldiers in the Indian Army on their own strong willpower to perform as equals to their male counterparts. I came across one such incredible woman who was managing the traffic at the Army Literature Festival in Delhi. A smart young girl in army uniform complete with a white belt and red beret effortlessly guided the traffic with the confidence of a seasoned soldier. I stopped, congratulated her on being part of this OG fraternity and shook her hand, she gave a confident smile and went on doing her duty. The confident smiling face stayed with me and I am hopeful to see more young girls getting an opportunity to be part of the forces.