Reality show makes women in Indian Army a reality

As gender demarcations blur by the day, the age-old doubt on if women can fight alongside men in the army is witnessing a refreshing new change.

Two women participants of the five-member team, who’re participating in the documentary reality show, Mission Army Desh Ke Rakshak, on National Geographic, are surpassing the glass ceiling, with their mental toughness and physical stamina.

Nineteen-year-old Priyanka Oswal, a student, and 23-year-old Ela Vohra,  a software engineer, will be trained under various regiments and divisions of the Indian Army.

The final winner will  be part of the Indian Army’s peacekeeping mission at a location overseas. Says Priyanka, who comes from a civilian family, “I’m thrilled that I got a chance to be a part of Mission Army. It’s an achievement considering I was a part of the Commando School, Belgaum, which does not induct women cadres.” She says that this experience has given her an insight into the profession and hopes it will help when she takes it up as a full-time career.

Ela, who coincidentally also has been inducted into the army formally, hopes that the show will be a platform for things to come. “My father is from the armed forces. I have always been inspired to pursue a defence-related career. This came at the right time, when I cleared my armed forces exams.”

The two women surpassed 30,000 tough competitors across the country. Priyanka says, “Though we went through a host of process, the progressive group task is what I recall. We were given plywood and ropes and asked to clear obstacles with our logic and not physical strength, which was a task I thoroughly enjoyed.” Ela, on the other hand recounts her experience of a two-kilometre run, right when the auditions for the show began. “I didn’t have a clue of what to expect, when I enrolled in Mission Army and the unexpected exercise took me by surprise. But once there, I enjoyed each of our qualifying rounds,” she adds.

In this age where corporate jobs win over careers in defence services, will these women still choose a career with the armed forces? Says Priyanka, “I love travelling and adventure. A career with the army will give me ample scope for these.” Agrees Ela, “I have done my corporate bit and now waiting to serve the country.”

Mission Army airs on National Geographic every Monday at 10pm.