Gone are those days, when women were felt inferior to men and that they could not do any hard work. They were tender hearted and soft natured, so it was felt. This general opinion existed despite Indian Mythology quoting many brave women like ‘Madurai Meenakshi’, ‘Sathyabama,’ etc.
The history also quotes numerous undaunted women at war. Their grit and resilience, policies and determination, vision and mission, showed by them made men to take the back seat. Chand Bibi: Chand Bibi was the queen of Ahmed Nagar. When her husband, Adil Shaw of Bijapur had died, the country was thrown into chaos. Big wigs of the late king were lighting with each other, obviously to gain supremacy.
But Chand Bibi took them all to concert and mended their ill-feelings and ruled the country by herself. Her undaunted encounter with the mighty Mogul force led by Prince Salim is a fine example for her bravery. But the sad part of it was that, she was killed by her own men at last.
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Rani of Jhansi was yet another warrior woman, who defiantly fought with the British wielding sword and leading a powerful army, the way men do. And Rani Chennamma, the queen of Kittur, a district in Belgaum, Karnataka state, was a typical brave hearted woman. And so was Razia Sultan, who ruled Delhi and unnervingly fought many battles as early as the 13th century.
Now, in the modern days, Indian Army had room for the women corps too. Until few years ago, women were mostly in the army medical corps, serving as doctors and nurses. Now they too join the forces as commissioned officers as Lieutenant.
It happened some years ago. A woman lieutenant by name Ms. Sushmita Chakraborty had taken extreme step in Udampur. This stirred some concern whether women wing in the army was necessary. One of the senior officers in the rank of Lt. Gen. was quoted as saying that the Indian army could do well without women.
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But our defense ministry had made special arrangement to ensure that no woman cadet ever felt the heat psychologically and that they spontaneously come forward to serve the nation.
More than army and air force, navy had many plans to rope in women squad in the force. And there is a proposal to build an aircraft carrier at the cost of Rs. 3,200 crore rupees! Besides, arrangements have been made to accommodate women officers in the Shivalik – class frigates and the Kolkata -type destroyer too. Let us all welcome women warriors in the defense service.