Inclusion of women in combat roles in the Indian Army

        By Prof. Nilaya Murthy
      Faculty, IndSearch
      8th May 2020

With India’s top court stating that women will be allowed in all combat roles in the Indian Army; where are we heading to? Is it really a gender parity which we’rewitnessing in this male dominated bastion? Or is it only an idea where we are hell bent in romanticizing the fact of women in combat roles? So,are we ready to implement this fresh move and take the Indian Army one step forward, thus creating history yet again? 

It is said, when a coin is tossed, there is a probability of a head or a tail. Though we would like to see women as prime achievers in every field today, our story here also has its flip side.

Worldwide statistics shows that the strongest Armies like US and Israel,where a number of women have lost their lives in direct combat like air crashes, improvised explosive devices and medical reasons, have their share of physical limitations.

The issues include physical strength, stature and body composition which make women more vulnerable to injuries and medical problems.Physiological issues like menstruation and pregnancy make it difficult for women because of lack of privacy and sanitation facilities.These can worsen when there is deployment in unknown terrains and execution of ruggedactivities. There can be prolonged separation from one’s family, leading to depression and stress thus psychologicallyaffecting the individual.

Combat roles in places like Siachen Glacier (lowest can reach -30 ͦ C), counter terrorism measures, insurgency operations, frontline operations, weather challenging locations, high altitude areas, jungles and deserts require differenttemperaments and fitness quotientswhich could be difficult for a woman soldier.

Armed forces have to employ special measures for protection of women if they send them for high risk operations due to fear of kidnapping or physical pressures.

Secondly, the thought of a woman leading the pact can derail an egotistical man. Are men willing to take orders from a ‘Women Commander’?

Even countries like US and Israel try not to employ women in direct infantry combat.

But all this does not deter the possibility of inducting a woman in a combat role in the army.

Last year, our Government announcedthat, women will be recruited in permanent commission in ten different branches of Short Service Commission. So why are we ignorant of the fact that women are already given a place in the permanent commission?

Indian Air Force and Naval Forces have already allowed the entry of women in combat roles. Then why should the Indian Army be a solitaire, reserved only for the male lineage?

Women have already got a direct entry into permanent commission like the legal, educational, signals, army aviation, electronic and mechanical engineers, army service corps, army air defence, army ordinance and intelligence.

It is necessary to remove discrimination and boost the role of women in the armed forces. Capt.Tanya Shergill who recently led the Republic Day Paradebrilliantly quoted, ‘When we don the uniform, we are just faujis, gender is immaterial.’

There have been instances where three women were inducted as fighter pilots in the Air Force.There have been instances where women soldiers have performed qualitatively better than their counterparts and even some widows of officers killed in counter surgency operations have insisted on joining the army and are ready to work with full dedication and devotion.

There are cases where women have been awarded gallantry medals for their heroic acts and have performed extremely well and broken the glass ceiling created by some misogynists.  Some names worth mentioning here are Lt.Col Mitali Madumita, Flying Officer Gunjan Saxena, Lt.Gen Dr.Madhuri Kanitkar, Lt.Gen Punita Arora, Air Marshal Padmavathy Bandopadhyay, Captain Divya Ajith Kumar, Flight Lt. Nivedita Choudhary, Anjana Bhaduria, Priya Semwal, Lt.Sophia Quereshi and so many more. The list is endless.

The United States, Australia, France, Germany,Israel, North Korea, Netherlands, Canada are among global militaries that employ women in front combat positions.

It is an evolutionary process. Women have already been a part of all other forces, then why should Indian Army which is also one of the largest armies in the world be left as a orphan without the role of ‘Shakti’ to it? Can we create a visionary leadership rather than being engulfed by courts and parliaments?

Yes, there is a lot of groundwork to be done before the implementation of this rule. A manual can be made to protect the modesty of women for prevention of any untoward incidents.Administrative and social infrastructure, which is women-centric, can be created.

A defined framework can be designed which incorporates the induction, processing, working and roles, with all the other guidelines applicable to the Indian Army.

It is a slow process but not impossible. Definitely, patriarchy should not come in the way of equality and should not be a factor to judge the strength and valour of a woman who wants to serve the country.