The army is known to be men’s precinct where women barely exist, if so, then only at the non-technical positions. It is only after Pranab Mukherjee’s announcement in February 2016 that women are being wholeheartedly welcomed to take up all kinds of combat positions in the Indian Army. It was certainly a radical move to crush the gender barrier in the country which is still on its way to achieve the much-needed gender parity. However, there are a handful of women who proved themselves equally worthy of the green uniform as men. Here is a list of five women pioneers who broke the glass ceiling and paved the way for others.
1. PUNITA ARORA, First lady Lt. General of the Indian Army
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Punita Arora was the first woman to secure the second highest rank of Lt. General in the Indian Armed Forces. To achieve an (almost) unattainable position she had to combat many battles, especially at the social level. She is the firsts of many firsts; she became the first of her gender to become the Vice-Admiral of the Indian Navy, she also took the command of Armed Force Medical College in 2004, where her own glorious career began. Moreover, she was the first woman to point out at the infertility rate of the Indian soldiers and despite being labelled as anti-National; she recognised the need and managed to set up the first Infertility center of the Indian Armed Forces. The trajectory of her life and her survival in an all-men world is an immense source of inspiration that she puts beautifully in her Tedx Talk which you can watch here.
2. PRIYA JHINGAN, Cadet 001
Major Priya Jhingan is known for her unwavering determination and courage, she is the woman who pierced through the obstacles and paved way for her own self and the whole gender. As a student of law, she wrote a letter to the Army in Chief asking him to let women in. In 1992, her wish was granted and she was enrolled as cadet 001 along with 24 other recruits. This made her the first woman to join the army as an officer. Not many people know that this gutsy woman was a participant of the first season of the Fear Factor show- Khatro-Ke-Khiladi. Major Priya’s story of triumph may soon be a subject of a biopic.
3. DIVYA AJITH KUMAR, Recipient of the “Sword of Honour”
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Divya Ajith Kumar created the history by being the first woman to have been awarded the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ at the Officers Training Academy (OTA). She had beat 244 fellow cadets both men and women. In lieu of her pioneering performance she led an all-women contingent of 154 women officers and cadets of the Indian army on Republic day 2015, when the United States’ then-president, Mr. Barack Obama was the chief guest. This was the first time that an all-woman contingent had marched down the Rajpath.
4. SOPHIA QURESHI, leading the Corps of Signals
Lt. Colonel Sophia Quereshi is known to be the woman of few words but her achievements speak way more. In March 2016, she became the first lady officer to ever lead an army contingent at multi-national military exercise hosted by India. She worked up close with the members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries and proved herself as one of the topmost Peacemaking trainers the country has.
5. PRIYA SEMWAL Turning Tragedy into Triumph
An ordinary woman who became Lieutenant at the cruel twist of her fate. Priya Semiwal was the wife of Jawan Naik Amit Sharma, she lost him in the Rajput regiment 14 in Arunachal Pradesh. At this time their daughter was only 4 years of age, but instead of collapsing in distraught, she rose and decided to take the place of her husband in the Indian army. After excruciating hard work, she cleared her CDS and the subsequent SSB exam. She took the heart out and left her little baby in the custody of her grandmother while she completed her 11-month training of becoming a brave soldier at the OTA. Hence this is what happens when a woman taps her full potential and scripts her own life.
Apparently, it took our women a whole lifetime to switch from thimbles to armors, they have rowed their boats through severe storms and obstacles and what they have achieved is no small feat. The above-mentioned legends are definitely the first of their kinds who have left the gates open and roads constructed for others to follow. But the battles are yet to be fought, next up, we shall aim the condition where ‘gender’ no more defines the ‘profession’.
Hi, I am Riddhima Seth an English trainer and a literature post Graduate from the University of Delhi, aspiring to be a research scholar in Gender Studies. Currently having a stint as a learner and a content writer at The Radical and relishing the wonders of our Indian Army.
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