Sir — Besides the euphoria over US President Barack Obama’s presence at the dazzling 66th Republic Day parade in the capital, it was the excitement at the prospects of having an all-women contingent of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, marching down the majestic Rajpath, that kept the spectators enthralled. It was for the first time in the history of India’s Republic Day that women empowerment in the Armed Forces was showcased so magnificently. Yet, one gets a distinct feeling that such displays are reserved only for special occasions, with gender parity in the military remaining elusive.
At a time when women have become an integral part of the military in countries across the world, having demonstrated their willingness to fight during the wars of the last decade, a sane solution to the debate over the appropriateness of women serving in combat positions, eludes military leaders. Worldwide sentiment that women are not physically, mentally and emotionally qualified for combat duties, forms the crux of the many arguments against women serving in infantry units.
The argument here is not about women enlists being unable to complete a combat course. It is the scepticism about women enduring long periods under actual combat conditions that is the major reason for the reticence.