- In a welcome change, the Indian society’s social empowerment push for women is gradually undergoing some palpable alterations. It is most heartening that persistent efforts undertaken over the decades appear to be finally yielding intended results. Women are increasingly receiving opportunities, if not at par with their male counterparts, but definitely seeing an uptick. Vociferous calls for gender equality, parity, unbiased treatment, opportunities, and most importantly, encouraging to extend mutual respect is visible all-around. It gives immense pleasure to note that society is finally awakening to the fact that women are not inferior to men in any manner whatsoever as hitherto forbidden sectors are opening up to be explored by them.
PC:
- Of course, it cannot be mentioned with certainty that a level-playing field exists for both genders as yet. Nonetheless, definite steps initiated by all the stakeholders are yielding desired results albeit in a steady manner. However, the Indian military leadership still continues to somewhat hold back to decisively allowing women to enter the industry at par with men. Here, the credit should go to the honorable Supreme Court for relentlessly pursuing the case of women receiving equal representation in the earlier male-exclusive categories. The military leadership, as well as the Union Government, had to bow to the Apex Court’s goading and as such, results are there for all to see.
- Against this backdrop, it was an extremely refreshing and enchanting sight to witness some of the women marching crisply and saluting the President of India during the recent Republic Day parade in the national capital. Lieutenant Commander Aanchal Sharma led the naval contingent. Lieutenant Manisha Bohra led the Army Ordnance Corps contingent. India’s first woman Rafale jet pilot, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh saluted from the deck of the air force tableau. Women from BSF’s Bhawani motorcycle team put up an extremely daring and exciting display keeping the viewers rapturous right through. In short, this year’s Republic Day parade displayed women’s expanding role in the Indian military with instructive and inspiring vividity.
PC: SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY
- As they say, optics are important and essays a significant role in changing mindsets as well as mending prejudices. Imagery seen during the parade can encourage young women to consider military careers even as it helps erase their families’ nervousness about this aspect. Nonetheless, all such social shift banks on institutional change, on the forces welcoming women soldiers and promoting them fairly. As mentioned above, the push has definitely come from the Supreme Court’s side, while the forces have kept petitioning for more time to mitigate operational, practical, and cultural problems though.
- As mentioned above, the SC has been at the forefront in nudging the leadership to act. One such instance was visible during the last week when SC asked the government to explain why the intake of women candidates at the National Defence Academy has been prelimited at only 19 for the upcoming session, which is how many women were inducted last year. Hasn’t the NDA government set up the infrastructure needed for a full intake of women yet? No wonder, warfare has changed dramatically since the 20th century, modern armies need an appropriately wider skill set. Undoubtedly, they need women’s power here too and they will do justice to the role per se.
