Women naval officers to lead from the front at Republic Day parade

Last year Naari Shakti marked the Republic Day parade at Rajpath here, where for the first time, all-women contingents of the three services had marched down. While this year, the parade’s theme will largely shift to Make In India, the Indian Navy that has been made the leading agency for the occasion this time has put three of its women officers to lead as platoon commanders. 

Speaking to dna on Wednesday here, the three - Lieutenant Manisha Takshak, Lieutenant Commander Chetna Sonsale and Lieutenant Priyanka Chand - brimmed with excitement for being a part of the historic parade for the first time in their career.

The three will lead a naval contingent of 144 young sailors (who are all men). Sonsale, who belongs to Madhya Pradesh has served for six years and says for a young women like her, a chance to walk down Rajpath – where the entire country’s eyes would be fixed– would be an opportunity she would cherish for lifetime.

Takshak, who comes from Haryana, has spent four years into service. Her zeal on being a part of the parade was clearly visible despite being pointed how women personnel have been fighting to get into combat role for long.
“For me, personally, it’s a great chance to assert my worth as a woman officer in a male dominated force,”she says.

The third officer, Chand comes from Uttarakhand and has served for four years so far. Meanwhile, navy’s tableau at this year parade will display the under construction Indian Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant and the indigenous constructed submarine Kalvari. The tableau too will be led by a woman officer Lieutenant Sapna Dhiman.