Leading lady

For the first time in the history of the Indian Army, a young woman led the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy recently. Veenu Sandhu gets to know 21-year-old Divya Ajith

Date: September 18, 2010: Venue: The Parameshwaran drill square at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. A slim and sprightly young woman in her crisp uniform draws herself up to her full 5 foot 6 inch height as she stands proudly in front of a column of 244 gentlemen and lady cadets, ready to lead the passing out parade.

It was a sight the Academy had never seen before. For the first time in the history of the Indian Army, a woman was leading the passing out parade. Twenty one-year-old Divya Ajith — now Lieutenant Divya Ajith — knows she has broken the mould. But she is quite modest about it.

 

“It was a great moment, but I couldn't think about it then because I was commanding the parade,” says the Chennai girl. “I had to stay focused on the task at hand.” The culmination of the gruelling 11-month training found Ajith receiving the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’, the highest award given for all-round performance to a cadet, from Chief of Army Staff General V K Singh. No woman before her has earned this honour.

As of now, women can join the Army only through the Officers Training Academy or as doctors through the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. Proving their mettle in the male-dominated field is not an easy task. The expectations, and at times the cynicism, can be daunting. But Ajith says she never felt discriminated against at the Academy. “The male dominance is only in numbers, not in attitude,” she says. “There is no gender bias as long as you prove yourself.”

‘Proving yourself’ involves falling in line at 5.40 every morning for drill, excelling in academics, sports, weapons training, passing the test of endurance and overcoming obstacles (literally). The packed curriculum consists of 25 subjects. And the bar is high, especially when the cadet’s physical endurance is put to test. It involves 2.5 km to 30-km-long runs with packs and pouches on the back, push-ups, rope climbing, swimming and more. Ajith surpassed every cadet in her term to bag the gold in endurance, besides two other medals, again in the physical training categories, which have hitherto been male domains.

“The josh run (the Academy term for the 30-km marathon) was the most exciting,” says Ajith. “We were 33 women cadets in all, and we ran through the night carrying backpacks, reaching the finishing line around 3 am.” Had even one cadet fallen out or failed to complete the run in time, the entire team would have lost, she recalls. “We kept encouraging one another not to give up when the body felt it could not take another step forward. At times we had to push, pull and even shout if someone was left behind,” she says, with a hint of a smile in her voice. The trick was to keep the adrenaline pumping and have the mind rule the body.

Ajith, who was in the Zojila Company in the Academy — Zojila incidentally means ‘Path of Blizzards’ — says the gentlemen cadets had no problem with her success. “From the second term onwards, I was given senior appointments. The gentlemen cadets were happy for me,” says the young officer. Surely there were moments when the going got tough? Yes, she concedes honestly. “But then, all the cadets were in it together. Nobody was going through the grind alone,” she says. “Besides, I could always turn to my family when I felt low,” she adds.

Her maternal uncle was the only link with the Army, until now. Her father is a painting contractor and mother, a homemaker. “My mother was in the National Cadet Corps and I have grown up listening to NCC stories from her,” says Ajith. Initially her dream was to join the Indian Police Service. But she joined the NCC while she was in her second year BCom at the Stella Maris College in Chennai. Here, too, she excelled. At the 2008 Republic Day parade, where she represented Tamil Nadu, Ajith was adjudged the best NCC cadet and the best parade commander. At this point she decided to try for a career in the defence services, specifically, the Army. “I love the olive green of the Army uniform,” says Ajith who has been a topper throughout school (Good Shepherd Convent, Chennai) and college. Her favourite subjects were maths and accounts and her favourite sport, basketball. She has also trained in Bharatanatyam besides learning taekwondo and karate. Fond of music, Ajith also plays the drums.

Now it is time for the next challenge, as an officer of the world’s second largest army. Ajith has opted for the Army Air Defence Corps, the youngest arm of the Indian Army. “My platoon commander felt I have the skill and aptitude for this,” says Ajith. What about the perception that the Army tries to accommodate lady officers in ‘softer’ roles such as education and legal branches? “There are more men officers in the education corps than women,” she reasons.

Ajith will don the olive green uniform which she so admires for the next 10 years at least, after which she has an option to stay on in the Army for another four. But a 14-year term is the maximum the Army allows lady officers passing out from the Officers Training Academy. Women are not entitled to permanent commission, but for two non-combat branches — the Judge Advocate General and education corps. Ajith is not too worried. “14 years,” she says, “is a long time.” Things might change by then. And there’s another thing she’s hoping will change, she tells us. “I hope more young women join the Army.” Practical, level headed, gutsy young Lieutenant Divya Ajith might just be that inspiring example.