‘More women should join the Indian Army, defence forces’

New Delhi: Defying the general perception that defence forces are dominated by males, distinguished women officers from the Indian Army discussed their motivations, experiences, and the challenges they encountered and called for more women to join the armed forces.
Speaking at the ‘We Women Want Festival and Awards’ organised by iTV Network at Hotel Taj Ambassador here on Monday, Colonel Arti Chopra, Major Aprajeeta Sharma, Captain Ojaswita Shree, and Captain Kanika Rane recounted their journeys, showcasing their dedication and resilience.
Colonel Arti Chopra with an experience of two decades of service said her mother gave her all the support and motivation. She also said that she was fortunate to work with the first Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat and has also worked with the second CDS, General Anil Chauhan.
“It is a great experience and a great exposure for a woman officer to be working there and seeing how things unfold, how things are at the higher level”, she said.
Captain Kanika Rane’s shared her experience transitioning from a corporate job to the Army.
She recalled that the loss of her husband, who was also in the Army and achieved martyrdom during a combat, reshaped her perspective on purpose and fulfillment. The female officers emphasised that Uniform doesn’t see the gender and that they all are treated equally.
Major Sharma who is a paratrooper highlighted the transformative power of her 11 years in the Army and said that the Indian Army has completely transformed her life. She also advocated for more women to apply for the armed forces, emphasizing that selection should be based on merit and not gender.
Sharing her experiences of serving at 15,000 feet on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Captain Shree said that “I was there with my men doing all the jobs equally well”, adding that women are not a logistical burden but are capable contributors in such challenging situations.