Heralding a new dawn

Mona

A third generation officer Captain Priyanka Mehta, 26, dons the Olive Green every morning with her head held high. She might be the lone woman officer in her unit but life’s as testing for her as male counterparts. Posted with Signals Corps in Western Command Chandimandir, this electronics engineer, basically from Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, has already served the North-Eastern part of the country and vying for more!

Donning the Olive Green has been a privilege meant for the special few. Chances are even less if you are a woman… means double effort if not more, to make it in the prestigious Armed Forces of the country. Yet, there are women who with a passion in heart and wish to serve the motherland beat the odds to make it there. “Republic Day is no more a holiday but having been on both sides of the Rajpath, being the representative of national honour and pride patriotism is way of life,” says Major Sneha Bhandari. Born in Garhwal, she did Masters in Psychology before making it to the Ordinance Corps in the Indian Army. If these women officers are proud of being a fauji, prouder are their families. Major Preeti Ponia is as deft in her duties as being a mother to a two -year old son, and she is happy sharing credit for her success with her husband, a businessman in Gurgaon.

Army life means exercise at the crack of the dawn, office work during the day, games with their troops in the evening and socialising post it. “An understanding family to back you is a huge plus,” says Major Natasha Munshi, from Navsari, Gujarat. Eight years into the Corps of Signals; this engineer is living her dream of being a fauji.

Ask them if balancing personal and professional lives becomes a bit challenging with postings in remote areas, Major Natasha replies with a smile writ large on her face, “Challenges are everywhere, Army prepares you to deal with them and more.” Gender bias? “None, in fact, sometimes I feel men are more comfortable approaching us, for being women, we understand better,” says Major Sneha Bhandari. No more are they afraid of venturing out alone in dark, walking for kilometres, surviving hostile conditions but ready to face what life doles out …head on!

“There would be difficulties everywhere, but what we have here might not be elsewhere — an all round development, postings all across the country, opportunities to study for prestigious courses where civilians have to spend lakhs of rupees for free.” Needless to say that they are pumped up at the talk of permanent commission!

Moment of glory

Captain Divya would be leading the first women contingent part of Republic Day Parade, our show of strength to the world.  Captain Diyva is the only woman officer to get the Sword of Honour for the best all round cadet at Officers Training Academy, Chennai in 2006. Daughter of a businessman, and NCC cadet in her college, Captain Divya wished to don the Olive Green and made it to Army Air Defence. “Be determined in what you want to achieve in life,” says Captain Divya whose first posting was in Anantnag, Kashmir Valley. Presently, Instructor at the OTA, Chennai Captain Divya makes history as she leads 144 officers at the Republic Day Parade!

Call of duty

What baffles Capt Rupinder is why in a country of a billion plus, there aren’t enough officers. “It’s my appeal to all young men and women to come and join Armed Forces.” Given to her she would make it compulsory for every young man and woman to be part of the Defence Forces for at least two years. “Youngsters must know that they can appear in SSB even when in college and join post their studies,” says Captain Priyanka Mehta. “One must appear for SSB, the entry form is free so is ‘to and fro’ travel. If you make it, life is yours, even if not, it would be the most rewarding experience of life,” signs off Major Sneha Bhandari.

Command it

“Chin up, chest out, they make a man out of you in the Army,” says Capt (retired) Rupinder Sihra who served in the Corps of Signals in Indian Army. Major (retired) Sangeeta Tomar was the first batch of women to join the Judge Advocate General Branch and couldn’t be prouder. “Being from the family of Defence Personnel, I too wished to serve the nation, but I would be fortunate enough was a big surprise. When you don the colours, you feel for your country like you have never before.” Teething troubles? “No. Not for a moment I felt out of place. Jawans, JCOs address you as Saab, Mam is the title reserved for Army officers’ wives,” shares Capt Rupinder who post her term with Army is heading HR of an e-commerce firm in Delhi. Trained well, no wonder Army officers are picked up in whatever they wish to pursue, at a price they command!

[email protected]