Breaking the glass ceiling, Lieutenant Bhawna Kasturi, a lady officer, will lead a contingent of 144 personnel in the Army Day Parade on January 15.
Incredibly, this is the first time when a lady officer is leading a contingent on Army Day. However, in 2015, on the republic day, lady officers from tri services led their contingents with 148 personnel each drawn from the Army, Air Force and the Navy.
Indian Army will celebrate its 71st raising day on January 15.
This time, Lieutenant Kasturi will be leading the Indian Army’s Service Corps (ASC) contingent.
While the ASC is participating after a gap of 23 years, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat will take salute on this occasion.
Lt Kasturi said, “This is the first time ever a lady officer is leading a contingent. Earlier, never a lady officer led a jawans contingent.
Boys are putting too much effort and we have been practicing since past one year. “Our center is in Bangalore and I’m coming from our regimental center and it’s been six months we are practicing.
Along with me, there are two male officers from the center are practicing as contingent commanders,” said the Army officer.
She also lauded the Army for this opportunity and said, “This shows the kind of acceptance, the change and the evolutions which is happening in the entire organization. This shows acceptance for woman officers also.”
Interestingly, the officer also shared her views on permanent commission for the women officers. “The higher authority in the Army is working hard for it and they also recognizing the efforts being put by the lady officers,” She said.
Every year, Army Day is celebrated on 15 January in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa’s (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last
British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949. The day marks a day to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and its citizens.
