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Republic day celebrates ‘Nari Shakti’

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India witnessed the first march by women army, navy and air force personnel at the 66th Republic Day parade here on Monday. With “Women’s Empowerment” being the theme of this year, the main attraction of the annual extravaganza was be marching contingents of all-women officers of the three Services.

All-female units from the army, navy and air force marched for the first time in this year’s parade, featuring 25 tableaux — five more than last year.

Defence sources say the thought of having an all-women contingent came from Modi himself as he wanted the Services to focus on ‘Nari Shakti’.

City woman marchs at  Republic Day parade

A woman from the city was a part of the Navy’s first-ever all-woman marching contingent at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Monday.

When Sub-Lieutenant Hema S. (23) marched up the Rajpath and saluted the most powerful leaders, her parents G. Sudhakar Babu, an autorickshaw driver, and Komala J., a typist with the Karnataka Milk Federation, will stay glued to the television and take part in their daughter’s moment of glory.

“This is such a rare distinction and we couldn’t be prouder. As both my wife and I are severely diabetic, we can’t make it to Delhi. But we won’t miss a moment of it,” said Mr. Babu, a resident of Marenahalli.

Sub-Lieutenant Hema has tread a rough terrain to achieve success. While her father ferried passengers to fund his daughter’s education and her mother toiled hard at work and at home, Hema also took up part-time jobs while pursuing her studies.

“Hema got a government quota seat to pursue electrical engineering course. But there wasn’t enough money to fund her education. Without complaining she took up odd jobs till the last semester to reduce burden on us,” said Mr. Babu.

In 2014, when her course was nearing completion, she had two paths to choose from: a cushy, high-paying job at a software company or short-service commission of the Navy. “She didn’t hesitate to join the Navy. She had always wanted to serve the country. In fact she worked as a volunteer for an NGO during her college days, and even aired her desire to become a politician,” said her proud father.

After training in Kerala, Ms. Hema was posted to Gujarat for a four-week training. However, within four days she was called to New Delhi for training for the Republic Day parade.

“They start training at dawn, and I’m sure it must be very cold there. But she hasn’t complained even once. The Navy must have toughened her,” added Mr. Babu.

‘Nari Shakti’ leads the US leader

Likewise, Wing Commander Pooja Thakur who led the Inter-Services Guard of Honour for United States President Barack Obama and had reported at Rashtrapati Bhavan two hours before the American President arrived, said, “It was a very happy and proud moment for me and the Indian Air Force to lead the inter services guard of honour today,” after a string of television interviews, after leaving Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday afternoon.

It was a busy and overwhelming day for the wing commander, a native of Rajasthan, who comes from a defence background, and had not even had a chance to speak to her parents to ask them what they thought of her proud moment. “No, I wasn’t nervous,” she says, “Parades and ceremonials are a part of our training and inculcated in us since the beginning of our career. It was very exciting.”

With 13-and-a-half years of service experience, the officer is currently posted in the publicity cell of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi, and previously served in Chandigarh and Gorakhpur. She wears the history-making moment of being the first woman to lead an Inter-Services Guard of Honour with polite grace.

“The message it sends is that we all are equal. In the Indian Air Force, men and women receive the same training. It is not a job, but a way of life,” says the officer. “I hope more and more women join the Air Force and the Indian Armed Forces.”

 

 

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