American and Israeli forces exemplify women’s competence in matters military.

Are women tough enough? Well, in the late 1950s there was Flight Lieutenant Dr. Geeta Chanda. Apart from her medical profession she excelled as an expert parachute jumper and the Indian air Force appointed her as an instructor for para-troopers. She would take the boys for the mandatory twenty-kilometre cross-country, and woe to the man who fell or faltered on the way. Not only would he get an earful of the choicest, she was also known to pull them up by the collar. She was especially tough on the officers who lagged behind in the course.

During off-duty hours men consciously avoided crossing her path, yet it was the very same men who later gratefully acknowledged that her ‘recipe’ had stood them in good stead in battle and other emergencies.

In recent years women have been joining the military. There have been problems involving them and their male colleagues leading to allegations of misconduct and much else. Even some Courts Martial too had to be set up to prosecute sex offenders. Nevertheless, we know that women soldiers are there, that they are being required to perform the same kind of duties expected of their male counterparts. In time they will rise to higher ranks, they will be visible; they will demand their due. Women Air Force pilots have already died in service – although not yet in combat situations. If there are women Defence personnel, then a day will surely come when some of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I personally believe that women Defence officers will be a credit to India.

There will be problems too…some of them rather comical. Will we live to see the day when the Army Wives’ Association has to change its name to the Army Spouses’ Association? No doubt, a good many of those time-honoured mess protocols will also have to be modified to suit the presence of women officers. In short, the presence of women officers is likely to speed up the evolution of social processes within the military.

As for their ability to do the job. Here too, we must remember that “the job” itself is changing. Modern warfare is highly technological, requiring much more of brains and much less of brawn. When battles were fought with clubs and swords, victory was on the side of the man with the strongest arm. It takes no inordinate strength to pilot a plane; missiles are launched with the push of a button.

Inferior physical strength no longer makes women unfit for the military. If they are able to grasp situations quickly, make the right decision in the shortest possible time, hold out in the face of pressure and carry through until the goal is reached, then they fill the requirements of today’s soldier or airman.

Every year we celebrate the Navratras, commemorating Goddess Durga’s victory over various demons – especially Mahishasura. So, we have mythological as well as real life examples and precedents regarding women soldiers and generals in our society. Therefore, let us prepare ourselves mentally to accept a new role for women in the military. Could there be a better tribute to nari shakti?

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