A soldier does not recognise gender. Tough training, high morale, discipline, dedication and a never-say-die spirit can transform dreams into reality”, says Kshma Maliaya, one of the team of women BSF personnel in the ‘Seema Bhavani’ contingent astride Royal Enfield motorbikes who made heads turn at
Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day Parade.
“Many of us did not even know how to cycle before signing up for the BSF. From there, to an opportunity to perform our stunt riding in front of the nation on our (specially modified) Royal Enfield 350 CC motorbikes has been so exciting. I’m so proud to have come such a long way,” she adds.
Kshma, the first woman to join the BSF from Solaswari, a hamlet in Madhya Pradesh, makes it a point to identify
with the stronger sex, “I don’t look upon it as a personal achievement. I feel it was a proud moment for all Indian women.”
Kshma, however, perhaps exemplifies the ability, courage and determination of the women personnel of India’s para-military services and the BSF in particular who have crashed through the glass ceiling bike first, as it were. Her ambition, she shares, is “to be an inspiration to Indian girls” from the country’s hinterland caught up in a life of drudgery and discrimination.
“When I passed Class XII, I filled in the BSF recruitment form and was accepted by the premier paramilitary force which has been a second family to me. I haven’t looked back since.”
She was the part of National Cadet Core (NCC) in her higher secondary years, which she says provided valuable insights into the kind of life that she could expect in the force. “I was able to understand the functioning of the forces, the strict training regime, and the pride of doing something for the country thanks to the NCC. It motivated me to join the BSF,” she adds.
Incidentally, she did not tell anyone at home that she had applied to join the BSF. “I showed my father my joining letter and he was flabbergasted. I had never even crossed my village boundary so he was very worried initially about how I would cope. But I convinced him that this was the path for me and he was very supportive after that. He was so proud to see me on Republic Day.”
Kshma has views and is unafraid to express them. Replying to a question from The Pioneer, she says, “I want that women in the paramilitary forces should get an equal opportunity with men in both combat and non-combat roles. Training plays pivotal role in transforming men or women into soldiers. Our seniors guide us and make us tough.
We are always ready to defend our borders.”
Ramesh Chander, Chief Instructor, Polytechnic Center School for Motor Transport (CSMT), BSF Academy Tekanpur, points out that the Seema Bhavani is the first daredevil motorbike riding team in India.
“We have a mandate to encourage women empowerment under the leadership of Director General, BSF, KK Sharma. Initially, it was challenging to train them because 70 per cent of them had never even ridden a bicycle. But they had such determination to succeed. The Seema Bhavani daredevil team performed on the BSF Raising Day in December 2017 and we were all so impressed that the DG directed the team would perform on Republic Day.”
The rest is history, rather her story.