Republic Day 2015 is apparently all about women power. Or that’s what Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive says. India may not yet allow women on warships, let them fly fighter jets or induct them in the infantry, but women military officers are all set to show their ‘josh’ or spirited nature on Republic Day, when they march down the Rajpath in front of our biggest guest of the year, US President Barack Obama.
For the first time in the history of India, the Army, Navy and IAF will field all-women marching contingents – 148 in each. This is indeed a big step for women in India who are only permitted to enlist for the short service commission. Some female military officers were quoted as welcoming the decision to show ‘the leader of a global superpower’ that ‘Indian women are second to none’.
However admirable the move, it is likely to come off looking ironic if not awkward when you consider that President Obama is the commander-in-chief for an army that employs women not only in combat postings, but also on warships, nuclear submarines and to fly fighter planes .
As mentioned earlier, women in India, although permitted to join the army since the early 90s, are largely enlisted in the short service commission only. Among nearly 60,000 officers in the Armed forces, only 3000 of them are women. Although some of them have managed to make permanent commission in the recent times, combat roles remain an impossible dream. Each time the issue has come, the top brass in the army have managed to quash it, citing practical and cultural reasons.
With women already flying helicopters and transport crafts in the Indian Air Force with equal expertise as men, many female officers have confessed a desire to don the gloves of a fighter pilot too.
In fact, in permitting women only in non-combat roles, India is a member of a gradually dwindling club. Globally, many countries not only allow their female defense personnel in combat roles, but also in high ranking positions and compulsory conscriptions.
Even conservative countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia and Bangladesh have women in combat roles in their military. Pakistan, in fact, is the only Islamic country to have women appointed in the high ranking assignments and the general officer ranks.
So while PM Modi’s move to have women officers form a marching contingent for Republic Day parade is very admirable, it is merely window dressing. We women want the real deal.
Image Courtesy: BCCL
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