ARTICLE-THE MAHILA COMMANDOS

It is kind of hard to imagine the quintessential sensuous woman, the hottest commercial commodity of this century, in a pair of Black Dungarees. Right? It’s harder still to see her barter her vanity purse for a AK47. It is almost impossible to visualize her without her languorous gait, scampering through jungle thickets and darting through flying bullets. Having received the permission to interview, the nation’s first Mahila Commandos I had to somehow recreate that very image of the proverbial femme fatale. I was at a complete loss trying to imagine these new age girls, a bunch of gutsy plucky women who were ready to disown their average existence and lay down their lives for us.

Who are these women? I was wonderstruck!

Inducted in the mainstream only recently they have aroused enough curiosity and speculation on the feasibility of their existence. And rightly so, I thought! In a social structure that was still conservative of the role, and ill equipped of the requirements, of an avant-garde woman, it was a tremendous challenge to bring about any major transformation. Yes the society has undergone a gradual process of evolution in the last two decades or so with women in several challenging unconventional professions. Yes their very existence in a country of where female infanticide, child marriage and dowry deaths still make headlines, speak volumes. In no other outfit however, (defense or the paramilitary forces), have women formed part of a regular combat team before. They have existed merely as a support system so far. Never before have they taken a more severe challenge of testing the limits of their physical endurance in a task that allows no concession for being the weaker sex.

The Mahila Commandos were a quantum leap and whether they will eventually achieve the impossible was the gnawing question!

“ In a country of paradoxes where the female form is worshipped as a goddess, but looked down upon in its human form, it is a deliberate step forward to bring about a sweeping change in our mindset and break a few myths, ” quipped Shri Ranjit Mooshahari, IPS, Director General of NSG. In a bid to pursue gender equity in NSG, he had mooted the idea early in mid June 2002.The first batch of trainee was inducted within six months in 2003. “It is a tentative but a bold experiment which we are constantly monitoring for teething troubles,” he added “Many smaller nations already have women employed as sky marshals, no reason why we can’t achieve the same if not more” he argued.

Moreover with terrorism billowing in the backdrop, it is “an imperative need” to have an equally competent female combat team to launch surgical strike operations today, reminded Major General Mono Bhagat, IG Operations.

But will they be able to deliver and survive the hardship in the long run?

“Why not? Unarmed combat was a skill that required more mental sharpness, than muscle power”, he said. Now I didn’t think of that. This is not about hand-to-hand scuffle, I realized at last. “Women are often more skilled at such psychological warfares.
These skilled commandos “would be able to perform the same duties, in mixed roles along with their male counterparts, in aviation security and all intervention tasks at the end of their training, just as well if not better.”

Teeming questions still flitted through the mind. I could barely wait for the final encounter. The candidature had been thrown open to all serving policewomen, across the country I was informed. From little tucked away villages of Jammu to Kerala, small towns of Bangdubi to Barmer, and all walks of life, from runaway matriculates to M.A’s hundreds came for the initial 90 days probation. Only 13 were retained for advanced training. Between the age of 24 and 34 this selected lot had 8 to 12 years of service with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in various positions (from constables to inspector) - a hardened posse of policewomen. By now I had a certain a mental picture. But three of them were married with small children? Mother and Commando? Now wasn’t that a googly? The proportion and persona of these trail blazers once again eluded me.

It was therefore more than surprise to be introduced to a group of affable, charming, simple and straightforward girls at the end of the long wait. What followed was a revelation and a rare opportunity to learn where we stand as women in the changing social configurations, in our fight for equal opportunities, and the priceless sacrifices made to achieve them.

Absolutely awe-inspiring! That is how they appeared in their firm bearing. The dignity of a commando uniform, the black dungaree with a black cat logo on the armband and a black beret drove a clear message home - “We are not just anyone”. Most of them were top athletes having represented their States in various events. Most of them have had to make difficult choices in life under tremendous resistance from family and society at large. They were all survivors and achievers, in some ways or the other. They were certainly not any run-of-the-mill-girl. Yet a tucked away lehenga amidst the jungle boots and rifles, or a toy for the five-year-old (who fails to recognize her mom after each prolonged separation), touched a chord somewhere. Their enormous commitment on one hand, and their average concern and anguish, on the other, made them larger than life and touchingly valiant at the end of the day.

Was it a calling of sorts, were they aware of the challenges ahead?

Coming from humble backgrounds, a job, a decent permanent source of income was a basic, indisputable need. On the other hand love for adventure was a haunting passion. “A hobby for a living seemed like an answer to our prayers.” The Commando uniform promised a further exposure onto the hitherto uncharted territories of a male dominated profession. However, “None of us knew what exactly we were setting ourselves for when we jumped at the prospect of joining the CRPF and later NSG”, was an honest admission.

A rigorous physical training comprising long route marches, difficult obstacle courses, slithering and jumping from a hovering helicopter, operating in simulated (near) combat situations on land, air and sea, etc are part of their daily routine to build up their stamina today. Firing is the most crucial skill they learn to hone here. “Military successes in commando operation spell of great amounts of discipline inculcated through years of training and individual grit all at the same time,” explained Brig Seethapathy, Force Commander of NSG, the patron guide of this motley lot. They cannot afford to miss their mark. Every day, every single day they set their eyes on their targets and practice relentlessly for hours to sharpen their reflexes like bloodthirsty hyena.

Shahnaj, the soft-spoken leader of this motley team, is MA in Economics, and an Inspector in the CRPF. “ The training has improved our stamina tremendously as well as their operational acumen. “A 40 km march with weapons and a weight of 5 kgs on the back, which she had to undertake during induction, seemed nothing compared to the training she has to undertake as a commando now. “It is tough! It is tiring! It is very demanding, but we are constantly working to prove ourselves worthy of our Black outfits,” she assured.

Despite the respect and adulation they have achieved so far, surprisingly cupid hasn’t exactly been kind to them. Apparently suitors have been running away! “ Bahu aur commando? kabhi nahi!,” Neelam mimiced impishly - A sad realization nevertheless that most men are still unable to accept a companion with an unconventional career. Protima and Mahilamani have been lucky to get CRPF employee husbands. Protima has supportive family members to take care of children back in the village. But her daily torment of having to stay away from her little ones for months on end has crushed the desire for a family in the rest of them. For Neelam ,Shahnaj ,Chandarani, Sreeja, Uma and Usha, the future is “all but certain”. Even if this is what they want to do with all their heart they still have some basic cravings.“ We will probably never have a family”, they worry, as they wistfully watch their bio clock ticking away. Men don’t have to take a break to raise a family!” So true! (Isn’t it the single most reason for the high level of attrition in female employees across the board?) “Neither do they have to feel guilty of their wife bringing up the children”. Life seems so unjust attimes. Equality and special privileges, one realizes, are all about square pegs in round holes for women who invade the last bastions of men. There is perhaps no way of dissolving that anomaly of existence. The overriding decision to still go for it is not just a thrill to do things differently. In a country like ours, where dowry deaths and unemployment are rampant, it is considered a privilege. “ We are at least capable of looking after ourselves financially and physically”.

“As women in any profession, if we want to be successful, we have to be ready to make scarifies, quash every other aspects of our life to our career… or continue to live amidst other misgivings,” said Jyoti, setting the tone of the transitional woman invading the man’s domain, echoing the anguish of all the women across the globe – and the rest agreed.

To be bold and courageous, to be self-sufficient, to be one in a million, is a dream that has come true with time for these Mahila Commandos, but not without tremendous hardship, sleepless nights and above all, agonizing sacrifices and yes tough decisions! But it’s a clarion call to a new generation of tough women in the making – “There is only a limit to crying for equality beyond which we must have the grit to make difficult choices in life and the determination to see them through.” Bravo Commandos! Not only will you go down in the pages of history, you will remain at the core of a great churning process that will take this country to greater heights of awareness.