- yesterday
In a discussion on the changing role of women in the armed forces, Colonel Akriti Sharma, the first woman officer from J&K to be a Commanding Officer in an operational area, stated that the narrative has shifted from 'who can and what ifs to... yes, I can and I will'. She emphasised that leadership is defined by presence in adversity and service. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot with the Indian Air Force, recounted a high-stakes rescue mission in Arunachal Pradesh. The interview also highlighted the current statistics of women in the forces: 13.69% in the Air Force, 6% in the Navy, and 3.97% in the Army, excluding medical branches. Both officers, who are also engineers, shared their journeys and offered advice to young aspirants, underscoring that courage, commitment, and self-belief are paramount for a career in the Indian armed forces.
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00:00Let's start with you Akriti. Why did you want to join the...
00:05Firstly, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to having both of us here on this forum,
00:13Women Redefining Power. So as far as my journey goes, I come from a very serene yet resilient
00:19valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, where we have grown up listening to the stories of valor,
00:25sacrifice and patriotism. I belong to a family deeply rooted in armed forces and civil services.
00:33So I believe in that environment, uniform isn't just admired, it's revered.
00:40So if I remember, during my childhood days, I was in class 7th, since class 7th I believe,
00:46I used to put my signature before my name, writing Captain before it. So I believe it wasn't a joke,
00:53it was a reality. So this one word, Captain, became my North Star, which guided me through
01:01my academics, be it school and engineering days. And while I believe there was no plan B,
01:09it was very clear, loud and clear to me, it was only and only olive greens. So I had an ambition,
01:15put it on my sleeve and when it changed to stars on my shoulders, I never knew it.
01:20So here I am and that's my story.
01:23And let's come to Wing Commander Vamika Singh. You're a helicopter pilot.
01:28You could have been anything else. Why did you choose this, this profession?
01:33Good afternoon everybody and thank you for giving me this opportunity.
01:36It's an honor to see you all and speak to you. And I'm honored that I'm in the blue uniform
01:42and I am speaking to you. Grateful to the Indian Air Force.
01:47Yeah, please tell us your back story.
01:50So my story, I am the first one from my family to enter the armed forces.
01:56Something similar, class 7th, my name is Vyomika,
02:01so the name was discussed in the class and somebody said,
02:05yes, Vyom means sky and you will own the sky.
02:08So since then the idea got slated in my thoughts
02:16and since then I was fascinated with the sky.
02:19I would look up and look at the skies, make the designs in the clouds
02:24and my study room used to face a window through which I could see the aircraft landing.
02:31So I used to draw the insignia on the tail planes,
02:36were drawn on the back of my notebooks, a little distracted.
02:42And then whenever the light used to go, I would wait for the park cut
02:49so that I can run up to my terrace with a torch.
02:52And I had the science reporter book, sorry, the magazine used to come.
02:57If anybody of you would remember, it had the sky of the month as a center sheet.
03:02I would take that with a torch and run up.
03:04So I was always fascinated with the skies and the aeroplanes.
03:07And being from Delhi, I have seen the aircraft during 26th January parade doing fly pass.
03:16So I was very, very fascinated and since then I have been wanting to be in the skies.
03:21So I am still a descendant.
03:22And I was very excited to have the front seat of the wing.
03:27My question is to Colonel Akriti.
03:28Since you are among the first woman officer, the commanding officer of the Indian Army,
03:34share us something about it.
03:35How the journey has been to our officer?
03:40Coming from JNK, yes, being the first woman officer from the JNK and commanding in the
03:50operational area right now, the journey has its own plus and minuses, but I believe in
03:59Army we don't generally talk about minus, because there are nothing much, it's all we
04:05turn into the positives that we have. I believe the changing phase and the challenges that
04:10I had initially were, in Army we actually don't have any challenges because we believe
04:17in actions rather than by birds. We work, we work for it so that there are no challenges
04:23that come our way. I had a privilege of working with mechanized infantry and the air defense
04:30regiments which are deeply operational environment and deeply rooted in their high stake environment
04:38that they are deployed in. Apart from a technical role which I am trained for, I got an experience
04:45to go beyond my own role and see what the combat actually feels like. I also got an opportunity
04:53to represent India in United Nations peacekeeping mission, which gave me a multi-dimensional
04:59role to the various other armies, how they work. And now myself when I am commanding in
05:05an operational area, these all roles have actually defined one thing and have strengthened my belief,
05:13that leadership isn't defined by just by comfort, but your presence in adversity, in action and
05:23in service. So I believe it sums up all.
05:26Har Ladin
05:41ades
05:46Yes, the beauty of being a helicopter pilot is you are not limited to runways. So I have
05:52flown in the plains or the seas of Jamnagar, I have flown in the plains and the desert of
06:00Jodhpur, I have flown in Arunachal Pradesh, I have flown in Jammu and Kashmir valley,
06:04one of the most beautiful flying I have done in Sikkim. So in Arunachal there was a year 2020,
06:12peak winters, we had a operational mission where we had to rescue or retrieve certain materials
06:18which was stuck at the edge of a 10,000 plus peak. It was a treacherous terrain so there was
06:26no other way but to retrieve it through the helicopters. So I led a two aircraft mission,
06:31we were five of us in the team and we would take the Garur commandos as well as the technical members
06:40and we would take them and drop them at the ledge where the equipment was and we would leave them
06:47for three years, go back, then come back after three hours to pick them up and the material that
06:52they have retrieved. The most challenging part of this place was, this mission was that the place,
07:02there was no place to land. The equipment had entirely, it had taken the entire ledge. I
07:09had to just, I had a very small bit of land where I could just place my skid like this. So balancing
07:20that there and also flying in that weather without doors, I was wearing double gloves. I know, I remember
07:28I had, my nose had frosted and I had snowflakes on my eyelashes. But then it was one of the best learning
07:37curves I have had in my helicopter tenure or the life as a helicopter pilot. The teamwork, the kind
07:46of joy should he see in the people who are in your team and the kind of longing that people have when
07:54we used to leave the team members there and come back. And even if it would be half an hour delayed
08:00because of weather, we had that yearning for those team members that we have to go and get them back.
08:05So the kind of camaraderie we had with the other services also, there was
08:12Rajshri Raspers and there was ITBP also there. So
08:16we saw that everybody who is in uniform, maybe the color is different, but there is tricolor inside
08:23our hearts, all of us. We were all Indians there and it was such a beautiful accomplishment that we
08:30all had together. That is one of the most memorable ones.
08:33Rajshri Raspers and I am going to ask you and I am just putting a bit of statistics into this.
08:43I was checking with my colleague as to what is the percentage of women in the armed forces and the
08:49statistics are quite interesting and revealing also. The Indian Air Force has 13.69% of women as
08:58officers. This excludes the medical and dental branches. In the Indian Army, you have, I think,
09:053.97% officers as women. Again, this is minusing the medical and dental branches. And in the Indian
09:15Navy, around 6% of officers as women. So in some senses, you will continue to be somewhat of a minority
09:21in some of these forces. And that is my question to you, Colonel Akriti, is has your presence in the
09:28army? Firstly, brought about a change, opened doors for other women. What would be your advice? How
09:34different is the forces now as when you joined, you know, what is the big difference you noticed?
09:43I believe the very fact both of us are sitting here has definitely not only changed the titles,
09:51but it has changed the belief. From who can and what ifs, to it has changed to yes, I can and I will.
10:02I believe not only the women and even the young generation, after seeing all of us, though being
10:10lesser in number is just a matter of time, when this number is going to change and it will definitely
10:15change. There is no doubt about it. Indian Army is already on to the path of progression, transformation
10:23and the change this country is going to see soon. All the women who are there initially, it has changed
10:31a narrative also, I believe. Earlier it was women can only join, but now they can lead, they can command
10:39and they can transform. Excellent. And can I get wing commander, sorry, why am I saying into this and
10:49what are your experiences? See, my experience has been, I have been surrounded with a lot of strong
10:55women, my mom being one. And it is all happening in phases. If you see, earlier there were no engineers.
11:03When I went to the engineering college in my first semester, out of 50 students, we were just two women.
11:08So, it is taking time. But yes, you have to appreciate the fact that yes, it is opening. And the Indian
11:17Air Force has now opened doors in all the branches, in every place. Rather, we were discussing before
11:23this that now in Sainik schools also, where it was never thought of that you will take girls who were in
11:30sixth class to go to a Sainik school. But that is also becoming a possibility now. So, I think it is a very,
11:40very positive change and it is definitely a must welcome one and it is welcome from the entire strata of
11:48the society. A person who is a businessman wants ki uski beti business woman bane. A person who is in
11:56Air Force, chahta hai hai ki uski beti air force officer bane. So, I think it is now spread. The fact that
12:04we all are here sitting in this summit, we are all looking forward to it. That yes, we want that change
12:10happening and we are the ones who will bring it. You know, it is interesting that you mentioned that you are from
12:15engineering. You are also an engineer in that sense. Again, when you look there also, there was a lot,
12:21as you are saying, you are two out of, two women out of 50. What is it that engineering brings to your,
12:27I know you have taken that as one of your core strengths that is there. How does it change your
12:31perspective when you are doing jobs like this? Having a degree of engineering, handling situations that
12:37could get you into combat. What is the difference does it bring to you? Being an engineer and commissioned
12:44into the core of electronics and mechanical engineers. I believe what I learned, I am able to
12:50do and Indian Army, I feel very fortunate enough that Indian Army has given me this opportunity,
12:56wherein right now commanding an EME battalion and doing your own core technical work. So, it can't be
13:04more satisfying than what we have been trained for, what I learned during my engineering days and I am able
13:10to deliver in the most thick of the situation, in the operational area right now. It can't be more
13:15satisfying than this. And for you, Wing Commander, being an engineer and a pilot, knowing what is going
13:22to happen to your helicopter, it does happen. Not really direct, but yes, being an engineer gives you a
13:29bent of mind, it gives you a problem-solving attitude. So, I think that's what really helped me in being a
13:37very, very… I take pride in saying that I am a very accomplished and very happy helicopter pilot,
13:46who has never felt that this is a new mission. I am always ready and always I believe that I will be
13:52able to take this on, come what may. Pradeep. My question to both of you is,
14:01both of you officers have served more than two decades, close to two decades in the military,
14:05yes, I guess. So, can you please share something, the defining moments basically of it or the maybe
14:12the turning point that shaped you as a leader or the maybe the commanding, basically as an officer
14:17basically. Can you share some of the defining moments of your entire two decades of career?
14:25They have about twenty of them, but it's okay, take one.
14:28Okay, defining moments as I've already mentioned about the journey, if I actually mention about,
14:38I have been fortunate enough, really blessed that my organization has given me
14:44a plethora of opportunity while those serving in mechanized units, air defense units, be it in
14:54administrations, going abroad in UN missions. I have got variety of experience, be it in operational or
15:04administrative roles, which not only define you as a person, but as an officer and finally turn you
15:11into a leader. It's not a one day job, it takes time and over a period of time you get shaped to work
15:20for what is desired out of you. I believe being a leader and what all I have learned throughout my
15:27entire service, I really feel fortunate enough and all thanks to my Indian army that I could stand
15:36shoulder to shoulder with one of the finest officers, soldiers of the Indian army, be it from any terrain,
15:44be it from any strata of services and arms. They have always been there, who held my hand, who guided me
15:51and have trained me and has made me capable of sitting here so that we can take on anything for what we are
15:59prepared for. Indian army is always there to take care of our nation, we are geared up for that and we
16:06will deliver whenever asked for.
16:08So, I think every step we take in uniform and every step we take, a learning step is a turning point,
16:22it's a defining moment. Every day you're changing, you're not the same person that you were yesterday.
16:27So, I learned something very early in my helicopter piloting. So, after commissioning my first posting,
16:37I was in Jodhpur and then we had a casket bag that I had to do from far place near Jaisalmer.
16:45So, I had to airlift an army javan who got a head injury and there was no hospital facility in Jaisalmer
16:55which could treat him very urgently. So, we had gone to pick him up and drop him back at Jodhpur
16:59military hospital. So, when I reached there, reaching was one of the sorties but when I went there,
17:06we saw the urgency, we saw the patient lying and you realize it's a life and death situation.
17:13There are no chances that you can take when you're doing this. So, that's when it seeped into it the
17:20importance of the job that you're doing and the responsibility that you have on you and the hope
17:28that you actually are caring of the people that you are giving your aid to. That is what I think helped
17:35you to hone your skills. That is one of the, you know, a carrot that makes you that yes, I have to
17:41refine, I have to be able to help everybody because, because you have that ability to touch those lives,
17:48you have the ability to save precious lives. That was one of the very first sorties. I was a co-pilot
17:54only but I learned that boss, nothing can be taken in light of vain and you have to become the best
18:04because so many things will depend on you. That one day when you are required to save somebody's life,
18:10you will be able to do. That day you cannot fail them. Right. Fascinating. You know,
18:18Kanala, you must have had a lot of these experiences. I know you're in combat situation,
18:22so you can't speak too openly about it. But let's take you a little back like the wing commander went
18:28and were there any instances that stayed in your memory that, you know, you felt this is the moment,
18:34this is what was inspirational for you, particularly early in your career.
18:43I remember when I was serving with the, again, one of the combat arms. At that time,
18:55the Orb Balakot had happened and Orb Zafran was taking place. There were certain preparations that
19:02were happening. So the time, at that time, there were many incidences which took place,
19:11though I may not be able to share it out here, loud and clear. But then, yes, what the question
19:17that he has asked, I would just like to answer it in just a simple way is, the way we are trained for
19:24and the kind of responsibility that we have for the lives of men working with us as a team, the kind of trust
19:35that we have, the way we lead from the front, the way we are prepared, geared and the way we train together.
19:44I think that confidence that gives us that we can actually meet any kind of eventuality.
19:51So stating only one incident wherein I say it was a life and death kind of a situation may not be correct.
20:00There are many incidences which come to light. It will be not correct on my part, only highlighting one incident.
20:07Because as on today also, every day is like a test for preparedness. Every day is like resilient.
20:14You are leading under pressure. But yes, still standing tall, taking care of your men who are there with you,
20:21who are standing tall with you, full of joy. And women. And taking care of your men and women.
20:25Yes, yes, men, women. Okay, not to sound that gender bias. Yes, taking care of men,
20:31women and my families who are there with me, standing tall with me. And yes, we all are happy,
20:38smiling and a lovely family that we have. We are, we are driving and there to thrive. Thank you.
20:44Wonderful. And we can see why the Indian Armed Forces are so respected, the kind of confidence
20:51and maturity and the kind of passion that you all speak with. Final question, because we've just got
20:57about four minutes left. Wingpander, we'll start with you. And if you, when you all joined the forces,
21:03the percentage of women in the forces is far, far less than what it is now. What would your advice be
21:09to a young person who just maybe graduated like you did or about to enter, wants to enter the forces?
21:17What would your advice be to her? What would be your, you know, insights to her?
21:22I think my advice to every young woman who is listening would be to be fearless. Believe in yourself.
21:29You will be able to achieve whatever you think. Believe in your thoughts, believe in your capabilities.
21:35Yes, you will need to build them up. But, so make a road map, have a dream. I think you should
21:42write it down with timelines, then work backwards and then you will have your vision and you will be able
21:48to make it a life goal and achieve it. There is nothing that anybody cannot do, men or women.
21:58And we're going to turn that question to you. What happens if a young Akriti comes and now is
22:04wanting to join the forces? What would you be advising her to do?
22:07Yes, definitely. I have got good advice for all the young boys and girls who would like to join Indian
22:14Armed Forces first. The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes first, always and every time.
22:22Be bold, be courageous, be confident. Write your own notebook, choose your own label. Choose courage
22:31over comfort. Dreams don't come with expiry dates, but yes, they do demand commitments. So,
22:38be strong enough to face the world and know your potential. Because at the end, you owe a duty to
22:46your country. Thank you, young Shaheen. I would like to add a little thing for anybody who is really
22:55aspiring to be a part of the olive green or the blue or the white. The Indian Armed Forces is a family
23:02which gives you ample opportunity with open hands to become whatever you want to.
23:07I am not only a helicopter pilot, I am a composite package. I am a mother, I am a wife, I am a sister,
23:18I am a daughter, I am an adventurer. I have done scuba diving, I have done mountaineering, I have done
23:23sailing, you name it and you have the opportunity to do it. So, I think the Indian Armed Forces is the
23:29place for anybody who wants to do adventure, who wants to do engineering, who wants to fly, who wants to
23:35do contribute in the education side or anybody who wants to, who is very happy doing accounting.
23:43So, being in uniform is not only about flying or being an engineer, as we both are sitting here.
23:48There are so many other opportunities. Please do find out more about it and you will be very
23:53pleasantly surprised. Come join us.
23:55Well, we have got a minute left and I am going to… You know, you talked of both boys and girls,
24:02right? When I asked you that question. So, let us just stick to… You know, this is a women's summit.
24:07So, what would you advise be to a girl who is about to join the army?
24:11Advice to the girl? Yeah.
24:13I believe the very fact that I am sitting here proves that nothing can stop you if you are convinced
24:20about your passion, about your dream, about your goal. Yes, nothing comes easy. You have to work for
24:26your dreams. You have to be driven. You have to be passion-oriented. If you don't have passion,
24:31you lack passion, then nothing can take you where you want to. Destiny is one thing, but I believe your
24:37decisions decide your destiny. So, take charge of your things. And I am sure there is nothing,
24:45you know, that will stop you. We say, we write on our status, be bold, be unstoppable. So, be the one.
24:52You know, I always say someone has to be. So, maybe that someone can be you and has to be you.
24:58Just believe in yourself. Put on that smile on your face and just work for it. And I am sure
25:04there will be no limit that is going to stop you. Wow. Let's give them a very, very warm round
25:09of applause. We have never felt so proud, so inspired by you all. God bless. And keep serving the…
25:16You want to say something? Yes. I would… like any event in the Indian Armed Forces,
25:22we always end the event by saying Bharat Mata Ki Jai. I will urge all of you to kindly say Bharat Mata
25:29Ki Jai three times with me. Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
25:36Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Thank you, Jai Hind. Jai Hind. Thank you very much.
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