[Music] fate whispers to the woman that you
fate whispers to the woman that you
fate whispers to the woman that you cannot withstand the storm the woman
cannot withstand the storm the woman
cannot withstand the storm the woman whispers I am the storm that has been
whispers I am the storm that has been
whispers I am the storm that has been the essence of my journey in the Indian
the essence of my journey in the Indian
the essence of my journey in the Indian Air Force an invisible war within a
Air Force an invisible war within a
Air Force an invisible war within a battle for equal opportunity it was way
battle for equal opportunity it was way
battle for equal opportunity it was way back in 1992 that the government of
back in 1992 that the government of
back in 1992 that the government of India opened his door for women to join
India opened his door for women to join
India opened his door for women to join the Armed Forces to tell you the truth
the Armed Forces to tell you the truth
the Armed Forces to tell you the truth the glamour of uniform was not the only
the glamour of uniform was not the only
the glamour of uniform was not the only thing but the feel to be able to rough
thing but the feel to be able to rough
thing but the feel to be able to rough it out in the front years was more of my
it out in the front years was more of my
it out in the front years was more of my colleague 25,000 women applied to be
colleague 25,000 women applied to be
colleague 25,000 women applied to be part of the elite force and I was
part of the elite force and I was
part of the elite force and I was fortunate enough to be one of the
fortunate enough to be one of the
fortunate enough to be one of the pioneers the adrenaline rush and the
pioneers the adrenaline rush and the
pioneers the adrenaline rush and the pride you get when you’ve done a uniform
pride you get when you’ve done a uniform
pride you get when you’ve done a uniform it’s something phenomenal we were thrown
it’s something phenomenal we were thrown
it’s something phenomenal we were thrown into the Air Force Academy grueling
into the Air Force Academy grueling
into the Air Force Academy grueling schedule the day will start with a run
schedule the day will start with a run
schedule the day will start with a run and before you know it you would be on
and before you know it you would be on
and before you know it you would be on parade drill cross-country weapon
parade drill cross-country weapon
parade drill cross-country weapon training and jungle camp and middle of
training and jungle camp and middle of
training and jungle camp and middle of the night it was Air Force way of
the night it was Air Force way of
the night it was Air Force way of indoctrinating us what the military says
indoctrinating us what the military says
indoctrinating us what the military says to make you give you an unquestionable
to make you give you an unquestionable
to make you give you an unquestionable allegiance to the set up many lessons
allegiance to the set up many lessons
allegiance to the set up many lessons learned but the prime being when you are
learned but the prime being when you are
learned but the prime being when you are asked to jump you do not ask why just
asked to jump you do not ask why just
asked to jump you do not ask why just ask how high the morning my blues with
ask how high the morning my blues with
ask how high the morning my blues with pride and glory I report to my first
pride and glory I report to my first
pride and glory I report to my first place of posting and I walk down the
place of posting and I walk down the
place of posting and I walk down the corridors of the officers mess and I
corridors of the officers mess and I
corridors of the officers mess and I asked the mess in charge where is the
asked the mess in charge where is the
asked the mess in charge where is the room keys to the room for pilot officer
room keys to the room for pilot officer
room keys to the room for pilot officer Joshi that was me and he looks at me
Joshi that was me and he looks at me
Joshi that was me and he looks at me very quizzed and he says Sahib time I
very quizzed and he says Sahib time I
very quizzed and he says Sahib time I cannot tell you the in creditors took on
cannot tell you the in creditors took on
cannot tell you the in creditors took on his face when I said man he saw ha hoo
his face when I said man he saw ha hoo
his face when I said man he saw ha hoo and it really struck me then that men
and it really struck me then that men
and it really struck me then that men actually were not prepared to accept
actually were not prepared to accept
actually were not prepared to accept women as officers and I was soon to
women as officers and I was soon to
women as officers and I was soon to realize that he was not the only one
realize that he was not the only one
realize that he was not the only one it’s not about crafting a narrative here
it’s not about crafting a narrative here
it’s not about crafting a narrative here but the ground reality you felt like
but the ground reality you felt like
but the ground reality you felt like being watched all the time
being watched all the time
being watched all the time the seniors would not know how to treat
the seniors would not know how to treat
the seniors would not know how to treat you whether you were a lady or a junior
you whether you were a lady or a junior
you whether you were a lady or a junior officer your colleagues who would be
officer your colleagues who would be
officer your colleagues who would be sitting in a dining hall and it will be
sitting in a dining hall and it will be
sitting in a dining hall and it will be bustling with laughter and energy
bustling with laughter and energy
bustling with laughter and energy there’ll be a pin drop silence the
there’ll be a pin drop silence the
there’ll be a pin drop silence the moment you walked in because they did
moment you walked in because they did
moment you walked in because they did not how to socially react to a female
not how to socially react to a female
not how to socially react to a female officer every minute and every time you
officer every minute and every time you
officer every minute and every time you were treated Morrises woman less as an
were treated Morrises woman less as an
were treated Morrises woman less as an officer once I’ve faced an incident of
officer once I’ve faced an incident of
officer once I’ve faced an incident of insubordination which is mostly unheard
insubordination which is mostly unheard
insubordination which is mostly unheard of in a military establishment when a
of in a military establishment when a
of in a military establishment when a man placed under me refused to take
man placed under me refused to take
man placed under me refused to take orders and I’m when I complained it was
orders and I’m when I complained it was
orders and I’m when I complained it was I who was counseled saying that the man
I who was counseled saying that the man
I who was counseled saying that the man in question belonged to a state and he
in question belonged to a state and he
in question belonged to a state and he was socially engineered not to take
was socially engineered not to take
was socially engineered not to take orders from the woman it was then we
orders from the woman it was then we
orders from the woman it was then we realized and many such incidents made us
realized and many such incidents made us
realized and many such incidents made us realize that though the opportunity was
realize that though the opportunity was
realize that though the opportunity was given there a huge amount of barriers
given there a huge amount of barriers
given there a huge amount of barriers needed to be broken huge amount of
needed to be broken huge amount of
needed to be broken huge amount of mindset needed to be changed and if I
mindset needed to be changed and if I
mindset needed to be changed and if I may say it has taken in an airforce 20
may say it has taken in an airforce 20
may say it has taken in an airforce 20 years to actually break the sound
years to actually break the sound
years to actually break the sound barrier when they have finally accepted
barrier when they have finally accepted
barrier when they have finally accepted women in a combat role and you now have
women in a combat role and you now have
women in a combat role and you now have women in the frontline fighting force
women in the frontline fighting force
women in the frontline fighting force however before reaching there there’s a
however before reaching there there’s a
however before reaching there there’s a long drawn history of legal battle and
long drawn history of legal battle and
long drawn history of legal battle and that’s where my story begins so when the
that’s where my story begins so when the
that’s where my story begins so when the euphoria of induction of women was over
euphoria of induction of women was over
euphoria of induction of women was over the reality bit us because then we
the reality bit us because then we
the reality bit us because then we realized that if it was courses
realized that if it was courses
realized that if it was courses promotions postings
promotions postings
promotions postings means we did not have the right
means we did not have the right
means we did not have the right entitlement women were inducted
entitlement women were inducted
entitlement women were inducted initially for five years and we were not
initially for five years and we were not
initially for five years and we were not given these because they called it we
given these because they called it we
given these because they called it we were in an experimental zone as we were
were in an experimental zone as we were
were in an experimental zone as we were nearing a completion of her first
nearing a completion of her first
nearing a completion of her first engagement I put up a representation
engagement I put up a representation
engagement I put up a representation asking why women should not be given a
asking why women should not be given a
asking why women should not be given a permanent place like their male
permanent place like their male
permanent place like their male counterpart I did not hear anything from
counterpart I did not hear anything from
counterpart I did not hear anything from them but suddenly after seven months we
them but suddenly after seven months we
them but suddenly after seven months we were given an extension of four years
were given an extension of four years
were given an extension of four years brilliant all of us very happy life
brilliant all of us very happy life
brilliant all of us very happy life moved on and I must admit the life in
moved on and I must admit the life in
moved on and I must admit the life in military is something very amazing as we
military is something very amazing as we
military is something very amazing as we were coming close to her second tenure I
were coming close to her second tenure I
were coming close to her second tenure I represented again asking what are the
represented again asking what are the
represented again asking what are the career prospects for women in the Armed
career prospects for women in the Armed
career prospects for women in the Armed Forces silence did not hear for long and
Forces silence did not hear for long and
Forces silence did not hear for long and I get a reply saying that it is a matter
I get a reply saying that it is a matter
I get a reply saying that it is a matter of try service because the Army and the
of try service because the Army and the
of try service because the Army and the Navy are also involved and the matter is
Navy are also involved and the matter is
Navy are also involved and the matter is lying with the Ministry of Defence fine
lying with the Ministry of Defence fine
lying with the Ministry of Defence fine I waited for the answer your past no
I waited for the answer your past no
I waited for the answer your past no reply I put my third application asking
reply I put my third application asking
reply I put my third application asking for an interview with the Chief of Air
for an interview with the Chief of Air
for an interview with the Chief of Air Staff he said the same thing on Obama
Staff he said the same thing on Obama
Staff he said the same thing on Obama wait the matter is with the Ministry of
wait the matter is with the Ministry of
wait the matter is with the Ministry of Defence and wait I did one year past I
Defence and wait I did one year past I
Defence and wait I did one year past I put my next application by then the
put my next application by then the
put my next application by then the chief had changed the new chief had
chief had changed the new chief had
chief had changed the new chief had taken over and I did not get any reply
taken over and I did not get any reply
taken over and I did not get any reply but we got six year extension into
but we got six year extension into
but we got six year extension into service but that was not really exciting
service but that was not really exciting
service but that was not really exciting the anger and what hounded me was this
the anger and what hounded me was this
the anger and what hounded me was this ad-hoc ISM and what I always wanted to
ad-hoc ISM and what I always wanted to
ad-hoc ISM and what I always wanted to question is that why we cannot get a
question is that why we cannot get a
question is that why we cannot get a permanent place and why women can’t
permanent place and why women can’t
permanent place and why women can’t fully continue their tenure and why a
fully continue their tenure and why a
fully continue their tenure and why a woman does not have a choice to serve
woman does not have a choice to serve
woman does not have a choice to serve they can
they can
they can which is their constitutional right not
to give up I put up another application
to give up I put up another application this time to the supreme commander of
this time to the supreme commander of
this time to the supreme commander of the Armed Forces that’s the president of
the Armed Forces that’s the president of
the Armed Forces that’s the president of India
India
India my application hasn’t seen the light of
my application hasn’t seen the light of
my application hasn’t seen the light of day so I wanted to move forward by then
day so I wanted to move forward by then
day so I wanted to move forward by then it was six application and six years had
it was six application and six years had
it was six application and six years had gone by I put up on an RTI and my RTI
gone by I put up on an RTI and my RTI
gone by I put up on an RTI and my RTI application was stonewalled by saying
application was stonewalled by saying
application was stonewalled by saying that the matters of human resource and
that the matters of human resource and
that the matters of human resource and establishment in military is of national
establishment in military is of national
establishment in military is of national importance and does not fall under the
importance and does not fall under the
importance and does not fall under the ambit of RTI what was there left to do
ambit of RTI what was there left to do
ambit of RTI what was there left to do knock at the doors of the courts by then
knock at the doors of the courts by then
knock at the doors of the courts by then a large number of women had also joined
a large number of women had also joined
a large number of women had also joined the forces I went ahead contacted many
the forces I went ahead contacted many
the forces I went ahead contacted many of them so that we can do a collective
of them so that we can do a collective
of them so that we can do a collective representation and it can become a class
representation and it can become a class
representation and it can become a class these only one came forward and thank
these only one came forward and thank
these only one came forward and thank you squad related Oksana for believing
you squad related Oksana for believing
you squad related Oksana for believing in me we went to the court with a very
in me we went to the court with a very
in me we went to the court with a very simple prayer that we should be given a
simple prayer that we should be given a
simple prayer that we should be given a permanent place in the Air Force on the
permanent place in the Air Force on the
permanent place in the Air Force on the basis of a efficiency and not on the
basis of a efficiency and not on the
basis of a efficiency and not on the basis of a gender you must understand
basis of a gender you must understand
basis of a gender you must understand that this was a very daunting task for
that this was a very daunting task for
that this was a very daunting task for us because we were fighting an
us because we were fighting an
us because we were fighting an organization which is extremely
organization which is extremely
organization which is extremely structured hierarchical and disciplined
structured hierarchical and disciplined
structured hierarchical and disciplined three years into the corridors of Delhi
three years into the corridors of Delhi
three years into the corridors of Delhi High Court
High Court
High Court we found our success and it was in 2010
we found our success and it was in 2010
we found our success and it was in 2010 that the landmark judgment came that the
that the landmark judgment came that the
that the landmark judgment came that the women will be given a permanent place in
women will be given a permanent place in
women will be given a permanent place in the Armed Forces
the Armed Forces
the Armed Forces [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] many learnings and prime being you may
many learnings and prime being you may
many learnings and prime being you may have the courage you may have the
have the courage you may have the
have the courage you may have the conviction but it is the perseverance
conviction but it is the perseverance
conviction but it is the perseverance that shall prevail there were lots of
that shall prevail there were lots of
that shall prevail there were lots of lessons taught in the classrooms which
lessons taught in the classrooms which
lessons taught in the classrooms which came in handy and as the Chinese
came in handy and as the Chinese
came in handy and as the Chinese strategist sons who will say in his art
strategist sons who will say in his art
strategist sons who will say in his art of war is you must make your war into a
of war is you must make your war into a
of war is you must make your war into a crusade it should not be about oneself
crusade it should not be about oneself
crusade it should not be about oneself and it should be about of a group and
and it should be about of a group and
and it should be about of a group and the victory shall come from the most
the victory shall come from the most
the victory shall come from the most unexpected quarters and I must
unexpected quarters and I must
unexpected quarters and I must acknowledge that in battle of equal
acknowledge that in battle of equal
acknowledge that in battle of equal opportunity the larger support came from
opportunity the larger support came from
opportunity the larger support came from the men
the men
the men the men who inducted us the superiors
the men who inducted us the superiors
the men who inducted us the superiors and our colleagues who believed in us
and our colleagues who believed in us
and our colleagues who believed in us and the judges were all men Roxana and I
and the judges were all men Roxana and I
and the judges were all men Roxana and I were reinstated back into the service
were reinstated back into the service
were reinstated back into the service it’s a history in the Armed Forces
it’s a history in the Armed Forces
it’s a history in the Armed Forces we did not join for different reasons
we did not join for different reasons
we did not join for different reasons but it’s important to know that the
but it’s important to know that the
but it’s important to know that the battle was for equal opportunity and I
battle was for equal opportunity and I
battle was for equal opportunity and I want to leave you with the thought that
want to leave you with the thought that
want to leave you with the thought that being a soldier is not only about
being a soldier is not only about
being a soldier is not only about courage it’s about sacrifice also and
courage it’s about sacrifice also and
courage it’s about sacrifice also and don’t try to teach a woman that so for
don’t try to teach a woman that so for
don’t try to teach a woman that so for all you wonderful women and men may you
all you wonderful women and men may you
all you wonderful women and men may you save your path and live with the motto
save your path and live with the motto
save your path and live with the motto of the airforce napalms personal deep
of the airforce napalms personal deep
of the airforce napalms personal deep thumb may you touch the sky with glory
thumb may you touch the sky with glory
thumb may you touch the sky with glory you
”
Be First to Comment