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'Iwouldprefertodieservingthecountrythanbesidelined'
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'Sowhatiftheenemiestakeusasprisonersofwar?'
'Sowhatiftheykillus?'
'IwouldfeelproudthatIcouldsacrificemylifeforthecountry,'saytheseproudladyofficersoftheIndianNavy.
ManuAB/Rediff.comspeakstosomeretiredwomencommanderswhofoughttoothandnailfortherighttoreturnto
theirbelovednavy.

IMAGE:TheIndianNavy'swomen'scontingentduringthe2015RepublicDayparadeinNewDelhi.Photograph:
PTI

"H

owcanaladyteachusmaths?"

AshockedcadetattheNationalDefenceAcademyhadjuststoodupandraisedthisquestion.
Evenmorestunnedatthisunexpectedinterruptionwashisteacher,SumitaBalooni.
"HecamefromaremotevillageandcouldnotimaginethataladycouldteachMaths,"shesays.
Balooni,whojoinedtheIndianNavyin1993,workedintheeducationwing,trainingmaleofficersandcadetsattheNDAand
theNavalAcademy.
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Naval training does not differentiate between male and female cadets. Yet, like in almost every other workplace, female
cadetshadtopushthemselveshardertoprovetheirworth.
Whileleadingabattalionofsailorsandcadetsinfiringexercises,Balooniwouldensuresheexcelledatfiringmorerounds.
Shewouldusealltheweaponstoproveshewasfitandskilledtobetheirleader.
Therewereofficerswhocouldnotacceptwomenbeingatparwiththem,saysBalooni.Themajorityofhercolleagueswere
supportiveandunderstanding.
A few months later, she recalls, she asked that student if he had changed his mind. "He told me I was one of his best
teachers,"shelaughs.

IMAGE:CommanderSumitaBaloonimadesureshefiredmoreroundsandused
alltheweaponstoprovethatshewasskilledenoughtobealeader.Photograph:
KindcourtesySumithaBalooni

oteverybarrierinthisbattleagainstgenderwasaseasilysurmounted.

FivehundredandthirtytwowomencurrentlyserveintheIndianNavy.Bothmenandwomencandidatesundergothesame
stringenttestsandtrainingprocedurestoberecruitedasofficers.
Yet,maleofficershavetheoptionofchoosingbetweenashortservicecommissionandapermanentcommission.Women
officershavetoresignafter14yearsofdedicatedserviceastherulesdidnotallowanextensionofservicetowomen.
ThisdiscriminationwaschallengedbyretiredcommandersPrasannaEdayilliam,SarojKumari,Balooni,PujaChhabraand
13otherladyofficers.
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Afterseveralhearingsthatwentonforoverfiveyears,theDelhihighcourtruledthattheIndianNavyshouldofferpermanent
commissionsforwomenaswell.
JusticesKailashGambhirandNajmiWazirisaid'Womenareheretostay'andthey'workshouldertoshoulder'withtheir
malecounterparts.
'Sexistandservicebias',thejudgessaid,wouldnotbeallowedtoblocktheprogressofwomen.
WiththeDelhihighcourt'slandmarkjudgment,these17ladyofficersaresettoreturntotheIndianNavyaservicethey
joinedbecauseoftheirpassiontoservicetheircountry.
Theseofficerswhowerefromtheeducation,logisticsandairtrafficcontrolbranchesoftheIndianNavywereinspiredto
fightfortheirrightsbythefactthattheIndianAirForceandtheIndianArmyamendedtheirrulesin2008toallowpermanent
commissionforwomen.

IMAGE:CommanderPrasannaEdayilliamtookupchallenging
missionsduringher14yearstintwiththeIndianNavy.Photograph:
KindcourtesyPrasannaEdayilliam

fter working for 14 years, women who have excelled are forced to quit as the Indian Navy does not offer them a
permanentcommission,saysEdayilliam,whoworkedacrossdifferentstatesandtookupchallengingmissionsduringher
14yearstint.
"Theworstpartisthattheprivatesectorisnotkeentohirewomenwhohaveworkedforthenavy.Manypeoplehaveasked
meifthenavyevenrecruitswomen!Afterworkingashighrankedofficers,webecomeworthlessoutsidethenavyandhave
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tostartourcareersfromscratch,whichisunfair,"shesays.
Thehighcourtverdictwasthefirststepincorrectingthisretrogradeattitude.Itwastimeforthenextone.
Edayilliam, who joined the Navy as part of its third batch of lady recruits in 1994, met Union Defence Minister Manohar
ParikkarwithSarojKumari,Balooni,ChhabraandCPIMPolitburomemberBrindaKarat.
Parikkarassuredthemofapolicychangetoaccommodatewomeninthenavyonapermanentbasis.TheRakshaMantri
addedthegovernmentwouldensuretherewasnoappealagainstthehighcourtjudgmentbythenavy.

IMAGE:CommanderSarojKumariworkedasalogisticsofficerinthe
IndianNavy.Photograph:KindcourtesySarojKumari

rom patrolling the streets the whole night during a civilian unrest to taking cadets on navigation journeys at night, to
beingpostedinremotelocations,totallycutofffromtheworld,withoutevenaphoneconnection,thesegrittywomenhave
provedthattheycanendureanyadversity.
"Everyonesayswomenhavedoneanexcellentjob(inthenavy)soitisillogicaltosaythatwecannotcontinueafter14
years.Theonlytimealadytakesashortbreakisduringpregnancysothathurdleisalsocrossedinthefirst14years.There
isnoreasontonotletuscontinueworking,"saysCommanderSarojKumari,whoworkedasalogisticsofficer.
CommaderSupriyaSethu,partofthefifthbatchtojointheNavy,adds,"Womenareasefficientasmenintheirwork,sowhy
shouldn'ttheybegiventheoptionofselectingashortservicecommissionorapermanentcommissionlikemendo?"
'Afterworkinginthenavyfor14years,wearesoexperiencedandwelltrainedthatwecantakeupanychallengingjob.
Unfortunately,theprivatesectorisapprehensiveaboutoffering(us)jobsandisscepticalaboutconsideringourseniority,"
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saystheKeralabasedSethu.
As a result, some women officers quit after five to seven years of service as their future is uncertain. If a permanent
commissionisoffered,theseformerofficersbelievemorewomenwillcomeforwardtojointhenavy.

IMAGE:SupriyaSethuwaspartofthefifthbatchofladyofficersto
jointheIndianNavy.Photgraph:KindcourtesySupriyaSethu

he lady officers also feel a job in the armed forces enhances mental and physical strength and offers an impressive
qualityoflife.Itexemplifieswomenempowermentandprepareswomentofaceanyadversitywithcourage.
CommanderEdayilliamrecallsthetimeshewaswitnesstoagruesomeairaccident.ADefenceResearchandDevelopment
Organisationtestflighthadcrashed,killingallonboard.
"IwasamongthefirstpeopletorushtothesiteinArkonam(inVellore,TamilNadu). It was terrifying to see bodies lying
scatteredtheywerebeyondrecognition."
But, she says, there was no time for any emotion. "We had to pick up the mortal remains, ready the coffins, inform the
relatives,takethemtothesite.Onceweareonduty,wetendtoforgetthatwearewomen.It'sonlythedutythatmatters,"says
Edayilliam.

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IMAGE:CommanderPrasannaEdayilliamduringherstintwiththeIndianNavy.
Photograph:KindcourtesyPrasannaEdayilliam

dayilliam,whohailsfromasmalltowninKanhangadinKerala'sKasargoddistrict,facedalotofjibeswhenshedecided
tojointhenavy.
Anavalofficertoldhershewouldnevermakeitasthenavywasmeantfortoughandsteelymen.
Unlikethearmyandtheairforce,thenavyhasacommontestforselectionandthesamefourmonthlonggruellingtraining
formenandwomen.
LifewasnoteasyforEdayilliamandtheotherwomenatthecampwheretheytrainedwiththemalecadets.Itwasatough
worldwithrigoroustrainingandpunishmentsfortheslightesterror.
Attheendofthefourmonths,thewomenprovedtheycouldfaceandsurviveanykindofsituation.
Sincewomenhaveahighpitchedvoice,theyarebetteratcommunicatingonradioduringairtrafficoperations.
EdayilliamwaspostedatArkonam,oneofthehottesttownsinIndiathetemperatureherecrosses43degreesCelsiusinthe
summer.
Itwasclearlyaplacethatmostpeoplewouldavoid,butEdayilliamvolunteeredfortheposting."Iwantedtotestmyselfin
impossiblesituationsandemergesuccessful."
Edayilliamisgratefultoherboss,wholookedatherasanofficerandrefusedtomakeanyconcessionsforhergender.
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"Iwasgivenchargeofahundredmenofdifferentranksandsomefounditdifficulttoacceptordersfromaladyboss."Overall,
she had a great experience. "Our job is not just restricted to air traffic control. We have to work in logistics, vendor
managementandbereadytodoanything,"saysEdayilliam.

IMAGE:SumitaBalooni,firstrow,extremeleft,andSarojKumari,lastrow,extremeright,werepartofthesecond
batchofladycadetsrecruitedbytheIndianNavyin1993.Photograph:KindcourtesySarojKumari

he Indian Navy recruited only a few women so these officers were the only women in the naval stations where they
worked.
"Eveniftherewerewomenwhojoinedlater,theywerenevertogetherduringdutytime.Ihaveonlyworkedwithmenandnot
oncedidIfaceanyissuedespitehavingworkedroundtheclock,"saysSethu.
"IhavepatrolledallnightwhenIwasgivenchargeofthewholestation.Aspartofthesurveillanceexercisethen,Ihadto
inspectvitalplacesinajeepwithadriver."
SethubelievesthatserviceintheIndianNavywithitschallenges,dutiesandresponsibilitiesisanadventureonemust
experience.
SumitaBalooni,whoisnowaserialentrepreneur,recallsthetimetheylosttheirwayinajungleduringheavyrainsand
found their way out after walking the whole night. "The mindset must change to accommodate women," she says. "With
adequatetraining,womencantakeupcombatrolesaswell."

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IMAGE:CommaderPrasannaEdayilliamatworkintheATCwing.Photograph:KindcourtesyPrasanna
Edayilliam

hentheworld'ssuperpowershaveequalstatusforwomeninthearmedforces,whyshouldIndialagbehind,these
womenask.
Whiletheyapplaudthefactthatcertainprogressivechangeshavetakenplaceinthenavyladyofficersaretreatedwith
morerespectandgivengoodjobprofilesandranksthereisstillalongwaytogo.
Atthemoment,intheIndianNavy,womenarenotpostedaboardwarshipsthereasoncitedisthattheconditionsonboard
maynotbegoodastherearenoseparatewashroomsorfacilitiesforwomen.
Theformerfemalenavalofficersfeelthesefactorsshouldnotbeahindrance.
SarojKumarisayssheknowswomenofficerswhohaveworkedonshipswithoutanyissues.
"Thenavyisdominatedbymen,butitisoneofthesafestplacesforwomentowork.Thoughwehavefixedworkinghours,
wearesupposedtobereadyforanyemergencycall.Ihaveworkedatoddhourswithhundredsofmenaround,butIhave
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neverfacedanyissues,"saysSethu.

IMAGE"WomenofficersintheIndianNavydesirerolesforwomenincombatsituations.Photograph:Kind
courtesyPrasannaEdayilliam

attingforrolesforwomenincombataswell,thesewomenofficerswelcomethemovebytheIndianAirForcetoinduct
womenfighterpilots.Thenavyhasannouncedthatitwillinductwomenpilotsforitsmaritimereconnaissanceaircraft,which
alsohaveantisubmarineandantishipwarfarecapabilities.
Whathappensandthisisanissueofconcerntothegovernmentifwomensoldiersaretakenprisonersinawar?"We
canbetakenasprisonerseveninanoncombatrole,"saysSarojKumari."Itisbaselesstosaythatapermanentcommission
willmakeusvictims."
Edayilliamsaysdeathisarealityeveryonefaceseveryday."Iwouldprefertodieservingthecountrythanbesidelined.So
whatiftheenemiestakeusasprisonersofwar?Sowhatoftheykillus?IwouldfeelproudthatIcouldsacrificemylifeforthe
country."
Underliningtheneedtohavemorewomeninthearmedforces,theseofficerssaythatparentsshouldbringupourdaughters
tofaceanysituationinlife.Theyshouldinstillconfidenceinthemandencouragethemtobeindependentfromanearlyage.
"Duetoalackofexposureandexperience,parentsinvillagesfeelacareerinthearmedforcesisnotmeantforwomen.One
hastobebold,confidentandbereadytofaceanykindofcrisis.Itisoneofthefewjobsthatcanchangeyourlifeforever,"
saysEdayilliam.
She believes that, given equal opportunities, women will excel in the armed forces. "Today we have women like Sunita
Williamsand(thelate)KalpanaChawla,whohavegonetospace.WomenhaveclimbedEverest.Whenwecompletesuch
daringmissionssuccessfully,thefacilitieshardlymatter.Ifthesewomencandowhattheydoaswellas,orevenbetter,that
men,whyshouldwelagbehind?"asksEdayilliam.

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IMAGE:ThedaredevilswhotookontheIndianNavy.Fromlefttoright:Retired
commandersSumitaBalooni,SarojKumari,PrasannaEdayilliamandPujaChhabrawith
CPIMMPBrindaKarat,centre.Photograph:KindcourtesyPrasannaEdayilliam

Afterastintinthearmy,navyortheairforce,womencanfaceanychallengeinlife,saythesewomen.Itoffersimmense
satisfaction,excellentfacilities,optionsforadventure,sportsandawiderangeofextracurricularactivities.
"After I cleared the tough Services Selection Board exam in 1996, I had the option of joining the navy as an air traffic
controller.Itwasunheardofatthetime,"saysSethu.
Shewasadvisedagainstit.Manyfeltthenavywasamalebastionandnotmeantforwomen.Herfamilytoodidnotwanther
tojointhenavy.
"Idecidedtotaketheriskanditwasawonderfulexperience,"saysSethu."IamproudtoservetheIndianNavy."
ManuAB

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