Major Sangita Tomar was one of the 25 girls belonging to the first batch of lady officers to be commissioned in the Indian Army in 1992. They were the harbingers of change. Before she joined the Army, she had been selected for doctoral programme at Jawaharlal Nehru University. But she joined the Army as most importantly, she had to prove to her father that she has officer-like qualities. She did her Infantry attachment, a compulsory period to be spent with infantry troops, with 18 Jats along the India-China border. She vividly remembers the dilemma on the sentry’s face when she entered the unit. He was surprised to see a woman in an officer’s uniform. Gradually, she earned the respect of her troops. Talking about women in service and combat, she says, “When you see four soldiers getting involved just to prepare a separate toilet for a lady officer, I think it’s a waste of resources. A male soldier can sleep with fellow soldiers in a bunker, but to ask the soldiers to vacate a barrack just to accommodate one or two female soldiers is like wasting resources. Hence, it needs to be systematically done.
Today, Major Tomar is into social work and has even contested elections as a candidate of Youth for Equality. She was selected after screening of biodatas, group discussions, personal Interview and a public debate. She was part of the Judge Advocate General stream of the Army and is also a trained lawyer. After her retirement, she joined a multi-national company but had to leave it because she was asked to do stuff she found to be unethical. She is using her legal prowess to help the society and is determined to make a mark as an honest political leader.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009
Today, Major Tomar is into social work and has even contested elections as a candidate of Youth for Equality. She was selected after screening of biodatas, group discussions, personal Interview and a public debate. She was part of the Judge Advocate General stream of the Army and is also a trained lawyer. After her retirement, she joined a multi-national company but had to leave it because she was asked to do stuff she found to be unethical. She is using her legal prowess to help the society and is determined to make a mark as an honest political leader.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009
