This year, Captain Abhilasha Barak became the first woman officer to join the Army Aviation Corps as a Combat Aviator. This is a historical event for our country because before that woman used to be appointed as ground staff or traffic controller only. But with the appointment of Captain Barak as an Aviator of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter, India has created a new benchmark in the history of women empowerment.

   In India, the history of women representation in combat forces is surrounded with the darkness of chronic gender inequality. The “Indian Military Nursing Service” established in 1888, was a pioneer in offering role to women in the Indian Armed Forces. The role of women in the Indian Armed Forces was further expanded with the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps, which allowed them to serve in primarily non-combatant roles like communications, accounting, administration, intelligence, etc. Where the British force....