%22Valour%20knows%20no%20gender%2C%22%20neither%20is%20a%20soldier%20or%20a%20warrior%20respected%20solely%20by%20gender.%20The%20acceptance%20of%20this%20reality%20is%20fast%20outpacing%20the%20parochial%20mindsets%20of%20the%20past%20resulting%20in%20signaling%20a%20fundamental%20move%20towards%20gender%20parity%20progression%20in%20one%20of%20the%20world%u2019s%20most%20male-dominated%20profession.

There%20remain%20multiple%20gender-specific%20challenges%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/indian-army-the-ultimate-bastion-of-the-nation%22%3Ein%20battlefield%20and%20peace%3C/a%3E%2C%20yet%20as%20society%20progressively%20advances%20in%20all%20walks%20of%20life%2C%20these%20do%20not%20remain%20unsurmountable%20any%20longer.%20Nevertheless%20soldiering%20as%20a%20volunteer%20profession%20is%20a%20way%20of%20life%20whose%20hardships%2C%20operational%20environment%20and%20sacrifices%20are%20extreme.

So%20the%20path%20to%20gender%20parity%20has%20to%20be%20graduated%20and%20well%20institutionalised%20with%20progressive%20acceptability%20of%20all%20consequences%2C%20in%20keeping%20with%20the%20operational%20environment%20and%20societal%20fabric%20of%20each%20nation.%26nbsp%3B

The%20mythological%20and%20historical%20role%20of%20women%20as%20warriors%20is%20well%20documented%20in%20the%20Indian%20context.%20Queen%20Vishpala%20is%20mentioned%20in%20Rig%20Veda%3B%20it%20is%20said%20that%20she%20lost%20her%20leg%20during%20a%20battle%2C%20and%20was%20given%20a%20prosthetic%20leg%20of%20iron%20so%20that%20she%20could%20return%20to%20the%20fight.%20In%20Ramayana%2C%20Queen%20Kaikeyi%20is%20such%20a%20valiant%20warrior%20that%20she%20singlehandedly%20rescues%20her%20husband%20Dasharatha%20when%20he%20is%20knocked%20unconscious%20on%20the%20battlefield%20and%20surrounded%20by%20enemies.

Also%20Read%20%7C%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/empowering-defence-diplomacy-in-the-national-security-calculus%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmpowering%20defence%20diplomacy%20in%20the%20national%20security%20calculus%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

What%20to%20speak%20of%20Durga%20and%20Lakshmi%20and%20Kali%2C%20normally%20portrayed%20in%20fighting%20mode.%20India%u2019s%20fight%20for%20freedom%20had%20many%20warriors%20like%20Rani%20Laxmi%20Bai%20of%20Jhansi%20and%20the%20selfless%20sacrifices%20of%20the%20brave%20women%20of%20the%20Indian%20National%20Army%20under%20Netaji%20Subhash%20Chandra%20Bose.

There%20are%20also%20numerous%20unsung%20women%20warriors%20like%20Mata%20Bhag%20Kaur%2C%20Onake%20Obavva%2C%20Keladi%20Chennamma%2C%20Belawadi%20Mallamma%2C%20Abbakka%20Rani%20who%20picked%20up%20the%20sword%20to%20fight%20for%20freedom.

The%20women%20were%20first%20inducted%20in%20India%20as%20military%20nursing%20officers%20in%201927%20and%20as%20medical%20officers%20from%201943%20in%20the%20British%20Indian%20Army.%20Ironically%20while%20India%20got%20independence%20in%201947%20it%20took%20almost%20forty-five%20years%20for%20the%20government%20of%20India%20to%20recognise%20the%20potential%20of%20women%20in%20the%20army%20as%20the%20first%20batch%20of%20women%20officers%20was%20inducted%20and%20got%20commissioned%20in%201992.

Yet%2C%20the%20headcount%20of%20women%20in%20the%20military%20has%20increased%20almost%20three-fold%20over%20the%20last%20six%20years%2C%20with%20more%20avenues%20being%20opened%20for%20them%20at%20a%20steady%20pace%20and%20with%20the%20services%20giving%20them%20more%20opportunities%20to%20boost%20career%20progression.

Also%20Read%20%7C%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/operation-vijay-the-forgotten-tri-service-liberation-of-goa-19-dec-1961%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EOperation%20Vijay%3A%20The%20forgotten%20tri-service%20liberation%20of%20Goa%20in%20Dec%2C%201961%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

The%20numbers%20and%20avenues%20are%20fast%20increasing%20with%20wider%20acceptability%20and%20recognition%20of%20their%20immense%20contribution.%20However%2C%20the%20key%20challenges%20that%20remain%20to%20be%20addressed%20are%20women%20in%20close%20combat%20front%20line%20role%20in%20combat%20arms%20and%20command%20of%20units.

Some%20of%20these%20have%20already%20found%20acceptance%20with%20pride%20as%20women%20don%20the%20wings%20of%20fighter%20pilots%20in%20the%20services.%20It%20is%20only%20a%20matter%20of%20time%20when%20women%20will%20break%20all%20barriers%20in%20the%20profession%20of%20arms%20to%20get%20to%20the%20rightful%20pedestrian.

Also%20Read%20%7C%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/chinas-military-might-and-limits-of-its-application%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EChina%27s%20military%20might%20and%20limits%20of%20its%20application%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

As%20a%20proud%20soldier%20for%20life%20having%20served%20with%20many%20warriors%20who%20happen%20to%20be%20women%2C%20I%20salute%20their%20immense%20contribution%20on%20this%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/pm-narendra-modi-extends-greeting-on-international-womens-day%22%3EWomen%u2019s%20Day%3C/a%3E.%20Not%20every%20beauty%20queen%20dons%20a%20crown%20on%20the%20head%2C%20some%20wear%20combat%20caps%20or%20helmets.

Not%20all%20women%20wear%20diamonds%20and%20stilettos%20to%20work%2C%20some%20wear%20dog%20tags%20and%20combat%20boots.%20They%20indeed%20do%20the%20nation%20proud%20and%20are%20the%20real%20selfless%20hero%u2019s%20because%20hero%u2019s%20are%20gender-neutral.

So%2C%20let%u2019s%20take%20a%20moment%20to%20salute%2C%20the%20real%20daughters%20of%20India%26nbsp%3B%20-%20Our%20Warriors%20who%20happen%20to%20be%20Women.

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23InternationalWomensDay%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Lncw94JSUnaQ%22%20href%3D%22/topic/internationalwomensday%22%3E%23InternationalWomensDay%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23IndianArmy%22%20data-user-id%3D%22bOfikYrrTLVD%22%20href%3D%22/topic/indianarmy%22%3E%23IndianArmy%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23GenderEquality%22%20data-user-id%3D%22rLd6BUigsMRk%22%20href%3D%22/topic/gender-equality%22%3E%23GenderEquality%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B