Women Who Broke The Barriers During The Republic Day Parade

The tradition of the Republic Day parade is as old as our Constitution. The first parade took place in 1950, and it has been held annually since then. The parade marches along the Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate and then to the Red Fort. It begins with the President of India unfurling the national flag. Following that, many Army, Navy, and Air Force regiments, as well as their bands, march in formation.

Women officers led contingents of the Indian Navy, Indian Army Service Corps, and a unit of the Corps of Signals (transportable satellite terminal) in this great parade, breaking gender barriers. The women, dressed nicely in their uniforms and beaming with pride as they march ahead with their squads, exhibiting Nari Shakti, is a scene of complete honour. Here is a list of women with incredible performances at the parade:

1. Tania Shergill

Source: The Economic Times

Shergill graduated from the Officer Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in March 2017 and is an electronics and communications graduate. Her grandfather, great-grandfather, and father all served in the army.

Captain Tania Shergill, an Army Corps of Signals officer, was the first female parade adjutant for the 2020 Republic Day parade. The procession is overseen by a parade adjutant. The family's fourth-generation army officer made history when she became the first woman Parade Adjutant to lead all-male contingents.

The 26-year-old lieutenant led the Corps of Signals contingent, bringing honour to her "family of faujis" and the country. She was the centre of attention when she marched along the Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade, dressed in khaki and with a ceremonial sword.

In an interview, when asked to give a message for youth she sai, "When we don the uniform, we are just 'faujis' (jawans or officers), gender is immaterial, all that matters is merit."

Watch Tanya’s stunning performance at the parade:

2. Khushboo Kanwar

Source: SSBCrack 

‘Daughter of bus conductor Major Khushboo leads all-woman Assam Rifles in the parade’ was the headline she achieved in every newspaper in the year of 2019. Major Khushboo joined the Indian Army in 2012 and is currently on deputation with the Assam Rifles. She is a mother in addition to conducting counter-insurgency operations with the Assam Rifles.

In the 70th Republic Day parade, an all-female troop of the Assam Rifles made history by parading along Rajpath for the first time. Major Khushboo Kanwar led the Assam Rifles' all-female troop in the Republic Day parade. The 30-year-old was the commander of the Assam Rifles, the country's oldest paramilitary organisation.

Major Khushboo described being a part of the Indian Army and serving the country as an honour. The phenomenal Major was beaming with pride receiving this historical opportunity.

Watch the fantastic performance of Khushboo at the parade:

3. Swati Rathore

Source: DNA India

In the year 2021, Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore of the Indian Air Force (IAF) became the first woman to lead the Republic Day flypast at Delhi's Rajpath.

Rathore was born in the Rajasthani area of Nagaur and educated in Ajmer. She had a childhood passion for becoming a pilot and took the Air Force Common Admission Test in 2013.

After passing the test on her first attempt, she was recruited for the IAF after an interview with the Air Force Selection Board in Dehradun in March 2014. Her brother is a part of the Merchant Navy.

Dr. Bhavani Rathore, the father of Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore, a Deputy Director in the state's Agriculture Department, urged other parents to support their daughters in achieving their goals.

Watch the marvellous performance of Swathi at the parade. 

4. Sheena Nayyar

Source: Rediff 

She was born into a business family and was inspired to join the Army after witnessing an exercise at the Wagah-Attari border. Her father, Vinod Nayyar, who once desired to wear the uniform, used to accompany her to the Wagah-Attari border to see the Beating Retreat ceremony. "It had always been my father's goal to wear olive green." "I'm honoured to have been able to fulfil his desire," she remarked.

As the commander of the TSV, a formidable voice and data communication technology used during battles, the first-generation Army officer from Amritsar made a bold statement about women empowerment. She was a member of the all-women marching contingent in 2015, but due to her impeccable technique, she was selected for the flag folding exercise following the Beat the Retreat ceremony during the Republic Day parade. In the same year, she marched in the Army Day parade as part of the first-ever all-women group. Major Sheena Nayyar of the Corps of Signals was in charge of the transportable satellite vehicle in 2020. 

'I chose the army over glamour,' said Major Sheena in an interview, who feels no other profession elicits the kind of respect like the army does.

Watch the outstanding performance of Sheena at the parade.

5. Bhawana Kanth

Source: DNA

Along with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh, the 28-year-old was one of the first women fighter pilots commissioned into the IAF in 2016. Kanth was born in Begusarai, Bihar, and completed her education in Bengaluru. She was assigned to the fighter squadron in November 2017 and began flying in March 2018.

The freshly acquired Rafale fighter jets were featured in the Republic Day parade in 2021, with the IAF's flypast finishing in the Vertical Charlie formation. The Eklavya formation, which included one Rafale jet, two Jaguars, and two MiG 29s, also included Rafale fighters.

Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth became the first female fighter pilot to fly in the Republic Day parade. Kanth was on exhibit among mock-ups of indigenously made Light Combat Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter Rudra, Rohini radars, and BrahMos in the IAF's tableau.

Watch the superb performance by Bhawana at the parade: 

6. Preeti Choudhary

Source: SSBCrackExams

Captain Preeti Choudhary, the Indian Army's only female contingent commander, was the driving force behind the updated Schilika armament system, which was unveiled for the first time at the 72nd Republic Day parade in Rajpath that year.

The updated Schilka Weapon system is integrated with sophisticated radar and digital fire control processors, allowing it to kill wartime targets for low-level air defence in any weather conditions while maintaining a precise eye on targets. Captain Preeti Choudhary, speaking about her role at the event, explained that it can monitor and shoot enemy targets up to 2 kilometres on the ground and 2.5 kilometres in the air.

Captain Preeti, speaking on her role as the leading female contingent commandant before to the march, stated that she was given the opportunity because her regiment had an updated weapon system, not because of her gender. As a cadet of the National Cadet Corps, she marched in the 2016 Republic Day parade along Rajpath. She was also awarded the Sword of Honour at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai for being an all-around cadet.

Watch the awesome performance of Preeti at the parade. 

7. Stanzin Noryang

Source: Tribune India

The team, led by sub-inspector Stanzin Noryang, demonstrated its driving abilities with stunts such as Salute to President, Fish Riding, Side Riding, Faulaad, Prachand Baalay Shaktiman, Mobile PT, Bull Fighting, and others at the 69th Republic Day. 

Throughout the display, over a hundred women riding as many as 26 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles thrilled the audience, many of whom — men, women, and children — were on their feet and clapping.

The 28-year-old from Ladakh led the squad, which included a diverse mix of strong and adventurous women from nearly all of the country's states. It is interesting to note that most of these women did not even know how to cycle before participating in the parade. This is likewise true for the team's captain! Others were afraid because they had never had the chance. Each of these women, on the other hand, bravely faced their concerns and took on the challenge like a boss!

Watch their phenomenal performance at the parade.

8. Seema Nag

Source: The Print

During the Republic Day Parade on Rajpath in New Delhi, a CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) women's contingent lead by Inspector Seema Nag made her debut in doing daredevil exploits. Toward the end of the 90-minute procession, the 65-member team displayed spectacular acrobatic skills on 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles.

Inspector Seema Nag, a member of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the CRPF's special anti-riots fighting force, was in charge of the contingent. On the occasion of the 71st Republic Day, Inspector Seema Nag led the delegation and was spotted saluting while standing on top of a moving motorcycle.

Watch the trailblazing performance by these ladies at the parade: 

9. Divya Ajith

Source: The Economic Times

During the parade, where US President Barack Obama was present as the special guest, Captain Divya Ajith Kumar of the Corps of Army Air Defence led a contingent of 154 female officers and cadets. While women officers have marched in previous Republic Day parades, this was the first occasion an all-women armed forces contingent marched down Rajpath.

Capt. Ajith earned her bachelor's degree in 2010 from the reputed Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. She made history when she became the first woman in the army to be awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour, which is given to the best cadet of a course.

At the 2008 Republic Day parade, she was chosen the finest NCC cadet. She was also the first woman to be awarded the 'Sword of Honour.' Ajith was 21 when she received the Sword of Honour and 25 when she was given the historic opportunity to lead the contingent in the Rday parade. Her father is also a military officer. "I hope watching us march in uniform will inspire many women to come ahead and join the forces to serve the nation," she said in an interview.

Watch her fabulous performance at the parade.

10. Bhawna Kasturi

Source: India Times 

Kasturi, who was born in Hyderabad, had no idea she would one day join the force. Not only that, but she would become the first woman Contingent Commander of the Indian Army Service Corps to lead an all-male contingent at the Republic Day Parade.

She stated that she had to go through a rigorous selection procedure in order to be considered for this position. The selection procedure began at the Army Service Corps Centre in Bangalore, she added. "For the past six months, we've been practising there." Several officers came to observe the drill and performance, and I went through a number of selection procedures and reviews. Finally, they chose me and placed a great deal of responsibility on my shoulders."

Watch the extraordinary achievement of Bhawna at the parade:

11. Khushi Srivastava

Source: NEET Bulletin

Lucknow's Khushi Srivastava marched in the famous Republic Day parade 2021 on Rajpath in Delhi. She is the only girl from the city to be accepted into the 200-strong contingent, which is made up of cadets from across the country. Khushi, a City Montessori School graduate, is a final-year BSc student at Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow.

The young lady is an Under officer in the senior NCC wing of the 19 UP Girls Battalion, and she made it through the four-stage selection procedure after extensive training and practise. Khushi wishes to one day serve in the Indian military.

12. Shikha Surabhi

Source: Patna Beats 

Captain Shikha Surabhi is the first woman to command the Indian Army's motorcycle display team on Republic Day, which included 36 men and 9 Royal Enfields. She saluted the President of India, the supreme leader of India's armed forces, by standing on top of the bike for 2.4 kilometres.

The bike was only propelled by her legs and travelled at a speed of 22 to 23 kilometres per hour. 136 jawans, two male officers, and 34 motorcycles make up the 'Daredevils' team. She is the first female officer to join the force.

Captain Shikha was born in Arrah, Bihar, and reared in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. As a child, she learned to ride a bike in her neighbourhood, and after her first posting in Arunachal Pradesh, she took up serious biking.

Watch her flawless performance at the parade:

Conclusion:

Including women in the Republic Day parade is more than a symbolic gesture; it illustrates the growing role of women in securing the country and making it a safer place.

Participation in the march is intended to inspire other young women to join the military or paramilitary forces in order to serve their nation.