The last decade has seen India moving forward in terms of crushing gender barriers and giving women an equal chance in almost all areas of work and profession. And that includes armed forces as well. Today, the Indian Armed Forces also allow women to participate in ground combat positions, tank units and serve on-board of submarines. IAF is already recruiting and training women pilots. Here are the 5 brave women from the Indian Armed Forces who are now an aspiration to the girls of the next generation:
1. Punita Arora
She is the first Indian woman to become the Lieutenant General of Indian Armed Forces, the second-highest rank in the army. Punita Arora was born into a Punjabi family that shifted based during partition to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. She also has served on the position of Vice-Admiral of Indian Navy. Prior to reaching such high rank, in 2004 she served as the commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College and was the first woman to serve at the institution’s highest position.
2. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay
Padmavathy joined the Indian Air Force in 1968 and went to become the first woman Air Marshal of the IAF. She became the first woman officer to complete her Defence Service Staff College course in 1978. Apart from being the first lady officer to serve as the aviation medicine specialist, she is also the first woman who conducted scientific research at the North Pole. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay was awarded for her excellent service during the India-Pakistan conflict in 1971 with the Vishisht Seva Mandal.
3. Mitali Madhumita
Sena medal is given to soldiers for gallantry and for showing their exemplary courage. Lt. Col. Mitali Madhumita was the first female officer to receive the medal in February 2011 for her courage during the operations in northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. When suicide bombers attacked on Kabul in February 2010, the army’s English Language Training Team led by Madhumita was the first to reach the Indian embassy in Kabul. Mathumita personally extricated around 19 officers who were almost buried beneath the rubble and took them to hospital.
4. Priya Jhingan
She became the first lady cadet to have joined the Indian Army on September 21, 1992. Priya Jhingan is a law graduate and wrote a letter to the Chief of Army requesting him to allow women to join the army. Just a year later, her wish was granted and along with her, 24 new female candidates were recruited.
5. Divya Ajith Jumar
Divya Ajith Jumar created a sort of history when at the young age of 21 she emerged victorious by beating 244 fellow cadets both men and women. She managed to beat all these fellow cadets and win the Best All-Round Cadet Award and also the “Sword of Honour.” It is quite a tough test to pass and includes swimming tests, P.T. tests, service subjects, field training, drill tests, obstacle training, and cross-country enclosures. She is the first woman to be honored by this award.
More Power to you Women.
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