Indian Army Day: Lady Officer Bhavana Kasturi Leads 144 Jawan Contingent

Celebrated on 15 January every year in India, Army Day recognises the day in 1949 when Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, who was the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949. The day is marked with celebrations across all Army headquarters including New Delhi. But what’s so special this year?

Miles To Go Before We Win

Even as we celebrate the inclusion of women in every profession including the defence forces of India, our very own chief of army staff General Bipin Rawat gave regressive arguments on why women should not join combat as the Indian Army is not ready for them. Women will complain about peeping, she will take maternity leave, Indian soldiers at lower ranks will have problem taking commands from women were some of the problems, he said. Are you serious?

Women Show The Way

But what’s special this year is that Lady Officer Bhavana Kasturi is leading the 144 Jawan contingent for the Rising Day Parade held on Army Day. This is exceptionally good news after women led their army, navy and air force contingents at the Republic Day parade in 2015. By leading the contingentfor Army day, she is joining the ranks of other women pioneers who have been the faces of change for women in the Indian Army over the years.

Read More: Have Travelled In Army trucks, Worked Night Shifts, But Never Quit

Women Pioneers In Indian Army

• Priya Jhingan was the first cadet to join the Indian Army in 1992.
• General Punita Arora was the first Indian woman to hold the rank of Lieutenant General in the India Armed Forces and first female Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy.
• Divya Ajith Kumar was the first woman in the Indian Army to receive the 'Sword of Honour'.
• Ganeve Lalji was the first woman to be appointed as the aide-de-camp in the Indian Army

HerZindagi salutes this change and hopes that we can see more women break the shackles of society like these women. To read more stories on trailblazers of women’s rights or women who are breaking rules, keep reading HerZindagi.

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