‘The Girls in Green’ is an ode to women who shine as officers

Vikrant Parmar

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A simple tale, told simply. That is how Tanushree Podder’s novel ‘The Girls in Green’ appears at first glance. Yet, at the heart of it is a strong message that challenges patriarchal biases and gender stereotypes.

The plot is based around four lady cadets, who go through the rigours at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Among them are Bijli Bijarnia aka Billi, a girl from Haryana, ‘lithe as a feline and crafty as a fox’, who is out to prove a point to the men in the conservative background she hails from; Lakmenlang Nongrum aka Lakme from Shillong, a law graduate and the first Khasi girl to join the academy; Shiny Joseph from Kottayam, to whom ‘sailing through challenges’ means happiness; and Nutan Patil aka Nutty from Jalna, who is quite the drama queen.

As they go through the strict regimen, the four cement a bond for life. Together they brace up and face what they consider ‘egoistic seniors, moody officers, moodier ustads and killing weather’. From their initial unwillingness to complete the back-breaking training of 11 months to the ambition of bagging the ‘sword of honour’, the author has covered each emotion well. Fun, frolic and despair are all rolled into one wholesome package, as the punishing schedule churns out able leaders out of ordinary girls ‘who dared to dream big’.

What the girls learn through the regimented living is that ‘the Army is not just a profession, it is a commitment for life’. In the epilogue, the author adds, ‘Life doesn’t end with the completion of training. It begins, in fact.’ She states how making a mark in the traditional male bastion will always remain a challenge for girls, but where there is a will, there is a way.

Podder’s knowledge of the Army world is deep. Her focus remains on the story, which at times seems a tad stretched. One thing is clear, though: it offers the perfect masala for visual display. Little wonder then, ‘The Girls in Green’ is soon going to be made into a web series!