Role Of Women In The Indian Armed Forces History Essay

Role Of Wo workforce In The Indian arm Forces History EssayIn recorded gracious history women soldiers pick up a shit been cause of each and every campaign, completeing variety of tasks such as amm unition carriers, picking up a weapon of a f every last(predicate)en soldier, washing, mending and cooking. earthly concern war II, Vietnam war and technological variations affected ingestion of male recruits in Europe, Asian armies and USA that led to induction of women soldiers to fill the va coffin nailcies. The USA has the highest representation of around 14 percent women soldiers straightaway, many of whom participated in the Gulf wars. Other European armies also move over a healthy tot of women soldiers in the build up specialitys. China has also immixd women into the array everywhere the prevail 50 years. The pi maveners of the desegregation of the women in S show uph Asia, both in officers and ranks was the Sri Lankan armed forces in year 1984 , followed by Indi a in officers rank in 1991 and Nepal in 2003. Indias decision to induct women officers was based on populist setting than military necessities. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan employ women basically in medical section.1The recent SC ruling and HC judgement to forget permanent wave commission2to women has made all the three services to think as to the future day role of women in Indian Armed Forces. The induction of women in Indian army started with the Grant of Short help Commission (SSC) for 5 years in the year 1991. Then the time limit for them to serve in the army as been increased over the years and is presently at 14 years. Presently women officers be getting commissioned into the services ie ASC, AOC, EME and beleaguer choke off arms of Engrs, Signals and AAD, in addition to the medical exam corps. In accordance with the ruling of the apex court the Indian Army has agreed to grant permanent commission to women officers in JAG branch, Army Education Corps and Medical Corps of the Army. However, a number of litigation has been filed for grant of permanent commission into fighting arms kindred infantry and comb support arm such as Engineers, Artillery, AAD etc. However, before any decision is taken we need to turn unwrap pop out a holistic vew of the integration of women into the Army with two important guiding factors.3. The debate to integrate women into in more(prenominal) non- usanceal roles in the military drop been raging since ages. Both for or against this topic chip in iron clad reasons.3On one hand slightly people believe that the increased power of military technology and Revolution in military Affairs (RMA) have led to the realisation that tangible confrontation between major powers to be avoided, however any future conflicts would be chthonian the umbrella of technology. This would involve a tech savy force and hence larger employment for women. Also the role of women in our society has permuted over time. Also women have served in armed forces since ancient times and the chorus for their integration have solitary(prenominal) grown louder. In Indian history also numerous examples of women soldiers and officers exists. Rani of Jhansi ag grouping of Indian National Army (INA) was formed on 9 Sep 1943 in Singapore under Capt Lakshmi Swaminathan Sehgal who was a doctor by concern. This force operated in the jungles of Malay and was very effective. Also the Nursing Corps of the Indian Army was raised in march 1889 and by 1939-40 their effect grew to 6000 trained nurses. These nurses had served British and Indian troops in India, Aden, Mesopotamia and Egypt during World War I and during World War II they served exceptionally well(p) in diametric theatres of war in Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Far East. History is replete with stories of women in battle.4 non altogether in the western world, merely also in the eastern, several examples of the battle ar in that respect where women have acti vely participated. Indian sub-continent also has an age long of history of battles participated by women. Although military profession is considered as the male- dominated occupation, women have also played such a diverse role that possibility of their intricacy in any military duties can not be neglected.4. Society has traditionally viewed women as out of mall both in organisations responsible for the implementation of military force and in applying lethal force as individuals. The use of lethal force is so strongly associated with the ideas of masculinity that the ability to use it is one of the defining traits of mankind. War is traditionally viewed as a man worry enterprise in this man dominated society. Military service has long been a masculine rite of passage. Men have traditionally destiny to idealistically fight for peace, home and family. They want to protect women and not to compete with them. The soldiers world has traditionally been a masculine haven. Their accessi on into a predominantly gender segregated substructure manage military has been protected by both law and cultural tradition in roughly of the countries.5. The human earnments in the field of apprehension and technology has changed not only the human lifestyle but has also helped to change the world coiffe. Military activities including the organisations, roles, responsibilities and threats have also been changed with the changes that have taken place in conglomerate other sectors of life. thither be lots of roles that can be played cope withly or neverthe slight more efficiently by women in the armed forces in comparison with the men.5This ruminate will try to find out the nigh suitable roles for the women in the armed forces and suggest whether the women could be employed as combatants in the armed forces or not.6. With the induction of women the Services atomic number 18 now coming in line with the main stream, where social change in favour of the female gender began with the freedom impulsion. Yet, at the same time, it cannot be ignored that since the Armed Forces atomic number 18 extremely high-profiled, a dramatic change like this would indeed filter down to the gross masses of India. There could not be a more positive experiment than this, for it has not only professional advantages for many women but also sociological benefits for them and the nation as a whole. Of course like anything new it would have teething problems. However, a mature democracy like India and its people know that presumptuousness time any experiment can be molded to the advantage of everyone.Statement of Problem7. To learning and analyse the role of women in Infantry and effect on morale and op effectiveness of frontline units.Justification of the get word8. The role of women in the armed forces for a long time, was particular to the medical profession i.e. doctors and nurses. In 1992, the doors were thrown and twisted open for women entry as regular officers i n aviation, logistics, law, engineering and exe mownive cadres. Thousands of spirited young women employ against advertisements and it was a turning point in the history of time. These women chose a new field where they had to painstakingly surface a street for the others to follow. The initial adjustment problems werent as much for the women as it was for the men. Wrapped in their tradition of valiance and respect to women, most gentlemen officers could not treat their female counterparts at par with themselves.6Their subordinates too, were men who came from conservative families where they saw women playing only traditional roles. The emergence of these women into totally male dominated bastions did initially constitute embarrassing moments for both. Men hushed their talks and behaved courteously, while women had to do with makeshift arrangements to suit their needs within units. Over the years and having come a long way now, men have realized that these women in uniform are their efficient and able co-workers. The time is not far when we may use the consideration sisters-in-arms as equivalent to brothers-in-arms.9. Currently, women in the non-medical cadre, serve as Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers. infra this pillow slip of commission, they can serve in the armed forces for a period ranging from 5-14 years. On release they can track a calling in the civil sector. Now women have start clamouring for opening up of the permanent commission in the armed forces and also to be part of Infantry units to ensure equivalence of opportunity. Employment of women in combat has become a hot issue at present. Two different schools of thought do exist amongst the scholars. The first claim that women are equally capable of men to perform the job and its the matter of equality also, whereas the supporters of latter idea claim that it is the exploitation of women to employ in combat because they are not physically and psychologically fit to perform the job. This debate needs to be carried out in detail.10. There are numerous examples of women taking part in battles in the other(prenominal). Indeed, throughout human history, most societies have kept women from fighting with the frontline troops. Those women who fought were often forced by circumstances or were give a chance only when men were in short supply. In essence, most societies have dependant women from serving in the military as they have restricted them from other male-dominated occupations.711. This study is prompted by a soldier scholars long abiding interest in the subject triggered off by majuscule interaction with rough ardent feminists of the National Cadet Corps during his college years. The aim of this study is to analyse the issues involved in the Indian context on the induction of women as personal below officers rank in the Army, blanking out the interference of noise and dust raised by over enthusiastic social scientists, ivory towboat scholars and milit ant feminists, to bring out the core issues involved.Scope12. In this study a brief diachronic perspective of women in combat roles will be discussed followed by roles performed by the women in the armed forces. Womens interest in insurgency and the requirement and employment of women in combat will be the major construction of the study.Methods of Data Collection13. The research methodology adopted for this study is by descriptive and analytical method. The sources of this study are the books, periodicals and newspapers procurable in the Defence Services Staff College library. Similarly the other sources include net web pages, previous studies in the similar field and some informal interaction with the student officers from various countries attending the 68th staff course. The Bibliography of sources is appended at the end of text.Organisation of the Study14. The study is presented in nine chapters as under-IntroductionHistorical PerspectiveIssues involved in inducting women in the frontlines units in armed forces. spread out role prospects.Experiences of women in combat.Summary and recommendations.Conclusion.CHAPTER IIHISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE As the ladies clad in their saries marched past to the sound of the bugle and the beatings of the drum, in that location could be traced not a touch of all the frailties that are so commonly attributed to them. No faltering, no hesitancy, no softness associated in popular minds with the womanhood of Bengal but chivalry written on every face and manifest in every movement.Colonel Latika Ghosh.15. Mythology is replete with instances of warrior women who were revered, worshipped like the Shakti, consort of Shiva the Destroyer, mother of all warriors, and who manifested herself as Durga the warrior goddess, to fight and destroy evil. The Greek Goddess Athena, the Roman Diana, the Nordic Valkyries and the Amazons are cases in point.16. The ancient Greeks, for example, Amazons so dedicated to state of war that each one of hem cut off one of their breast to improve her ability to shoot and throw spears. The Americans can point to settler Margaret Corbin who, during the British attack on Fort Washington in the Revolutionary War, operated a cannon until she was bad wounded. In the history of women in battle there is a combination of myth and exaggeration, sprinkled with a few true heroic accounts of unique women. Through out history, most societies have banned women from military service. As was the case in Soviet Union during World War II. .817. Instances of warrior women are scattered all over history. The Celtic Queen Boadicea, Joan of Arc of France and nearer home Razia Sultan, Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, Kittur Chinnamma Rani Durgawati of Gondwana, Chand bibi of Ahmednagar are good examples of women fighters. Our freedon movement is replete with examples of courageous women leaving the Chaar Diwari of their household to secure freedom from the British Sarojini Naidu, Kamala Devi Chattopadhya, Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kriplani, revolutionaries like Durga Bhabhi, Bina Das, Shanti Gosh and Suniti Chaudhary2 and in the Indian National Army, Colonel Latika Ghosh and Captain Lakshmi Sahgal Kshatriya are just a few of the prominent names.18. But withal all the above, the number of women warriors is minuscule. This highlights the fact that due to whatever physiological or sociological reasons, society at large evolved a role for the women in professions of nurture and culture rather than soldiering. We hear of women, as great mothers, wives and sisters who have nurtured famous warriors more than as famous generals or leaders of men in battle. This becomes demonstrable when one notices that no force of soldiery ever travelled far without its detachment of wives, concubines and hangers on, who cheerfully lift the burdens of washing, mending, cooking and generally pandering to the creature comforts, which have been the indispensable requirement of contended troops.19. Nations wo rld over have in recent times taken the momentous decision to admit women into the regular cadres of the armed forces. This raises the query of wherefore women are being brought into the realms of soldiery. One does not have to look deep to fathom the reasons for this development. The increasing front end of women in the Armed Forces can be traced to the beginning of this century in European history, wherein, the World Wars created an crafty shortage of manpower, forcing nations to call upon their women to supplement their forces. Women were inducted in large numbers pool into the softer military specialities like ordinance mill workers, rear area services, logistic support, nurses, doctors, staff car driver, et al relieving the able bodied men to hand the cannons.20. In Britain women gained recognition in Womens Auxiliary Service as early as 1916 upto the midst of World War I. The erstwhile Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Vietnam have permitted uninhibited participation of women in combat. Amongst the western countries, Canada, Australia, and Denmark are the most liberal in induction of women in their Armed Forces even for combat roles. In Netherlands all posts are optional for women. The Dutch have had to impose packing physical standards for some mens only jobs.921. Canada opened its Armed Forces to women at the behest of Royal commission on status of women in 1970. A five-year programme called SWINTER (Service Women In Non Traditional environs and Roles), launched to assess their suitability in combat roles demolished many myths and inhibitions which led to Canadas Human rights Tribunal to demand full integration for women and abolish 10% quota of vacancies reserved for them.22. In Soviet Russia, where all kinds of feminine tire prevailed, out of sheer imbalance in sex ratio, a bulk of women were allowed to join the Army. A meet side effect of this enforced equality was improved physical strength of Russian women and their robust character. In China the anti-female practices abetted by Confucius, Liu Shao Chi and Lin Piao were denounced as archaic and to ensure equality to women the Chinese leadership promoted their encompassing participation in womens militia, who provided armed support to political leadership against any possible counter revolution from old vested interests.1023. In more recent times the Israelis pressed by sheer paucity of numbers have enforced a virtual draft on unmarried women to occupy posts from where men could be released to move to front positions. In France the intake of women is divided into combat and non-combat roles in the three services and the gendarmery on long-term contract. Turkey, which is predominantly Islamic, has women in her regular Armed Forces. In Sep 90 might Fahd of Saudi Arabia approved a role for women in the Saudi Armed Forces.This has been followed by United Arab Emirates.10 In Iraq too, during the Iran-Iraq war, President Saddam Hussain, in an effort to strengthen more loyal Baathist Militias, enlisted some quarter zillion women into their womens wings. Arming them much against the wishes of religious factions, he proudly hailed this force as the most liberated in the muslim world.Domestic SceneAt the time of constitution making, the equality of women (Article 14), discrimination against them (Article 15) and equal opportunity for employment (Article 16) were thoroughly dealt with in accordance with the obtaining social ambience. It was considered prudent to insert Articles 16(3) and 33 in order to exempt our Armed Forces from the provisions of the Fundamental Rights with regard to employment of women. The contemporaneous leadership of that era accept norms of equality. The fact that the post Independence Indian thinking was so over optimistic about the future of non-use of army itself that any idea of womens participation in it mustiness have looked ludicrous to many a statesmen. That position still continues and the natural provision remains bind ing. The Army feign and the Air Force Act of 1950, the Navy act of 1957, stipulate that women are ineligible for enrolment and any deviation to this proviso could only be made through a special notification. A government sanction is thus authorisation for all cases of entry of women to our Armed Forces. Existing employment of women in the army Medical Corps (AMC) and the Army Dental corps (ADC) has been regularised. This legal barrier is not difficult to overcome but no organisation, group or a forum has so far felt any compulsion to challenge it. absence of public opinion to modify the regulation that has over a period of time become strange is only helping those who opine that we (Indians) are not ready to allow women in our Armed Forces. The constitutional allowance to honor women from joining military service has been conveniently used by our service home office to ward off whatever pressure there is from the hopefuls amongst female population. Thu this urge of the latter is not a recent phenomenon.11In the modern day of electronic warfare, its more about overcoming stress in warfare than physical combat. It has been proven scientifically that women handle stress better and are also mentally tougher. This is not to undermine a womans physical capability. Women have done extremely well in physical breeding as well. In the first few batches at the armed forces training academies women displayed more endurance and some even outran their male counterparts in cross-country runs and long distance marches.12They carry on this tradition and keep setting new records. As commissioned officers at the age of 22-23 years, they may often have subordinates aged than their parents. Hence, from day one, it is a challenge and leadership qualities are under test. The color of their crisp uniforms and the stars/stripes they deck differentiate them from each other. Despite the good quality of life, they may sometimes brook hardships due to the temperament of work. An officer may have to work in tough terrains or difficult circumstances. Most women however, who undergo training as cadets in various military academies, cope up with various difficult situations, easily. organism a transferable job, transfers and movements are seen as unique travel opportunities to travel to remotest locations in the country. Every unit is a mini-India with people and cultures as diverse. As most lady officers are married to gentlemen officers in the armed forces, as per government policies, they are transferred together. Women officers can also avail of maternity leave furlough and one-year leave in succession, to cater to pre and post-natal care. On retirement too, they enjoy medical facilities and coveted club memberships. They can afford to maintain the same quality of life due to the various benefits they can avail of. Their recognise and qualities imbibed while in service make them much in demand in the private sector. Although the path these women have cho sen is tough, they have proved that they have the spirit, the courage and the will to carry on. Presently, women do not serve in combat arms nor do they fly fighter aircrafts, but it wont be long before these forbidden avenues are thrown open to them.13CHAPTER IIIISSUES INVOLVED IN INDUCTING WOMEN IN THE FRONTLINES UNITS IN ARMED FORCES26. The Indian experiment of permitting women in the regular cadres of the three services is very recent. There is hardly any previous study on the subject of women in the Indian Army as commissioned officer in general and a permanent commissioned officer in particular, uphill to the ranks of a General. Naturally, therefore any discussion on the subject has to draw upon a great deal, from the available material based on the concepts and experiences of the Western Armies. Most of the issues are not culture specific but rather gender based, hence if not all, a majority of issues concerning women in uniform are apt(predicate) to apply across the board to Indian women in military services as well.There are two points that must be analysed before we can properly address the question of whether or not women should be granted permanent commission in the officer cadre. Firstly, the nature of the army as an institution and secondly, the nature of working environment itself according to career profile. If the army was just a job, and if justice and equal opportunity was all that was at stake, there would be no opposition to opening up all opportunities to every one. After all, women have demonstrated their competence in all areas of society, from medicine and the law to patronage and the academies.14They have benefited from capitalism and technology. The lifting of legal barriers against women in the civilian workplace has merely ratified the technological advances that have rendered physical strength less important than intellect, an area in which women are equal to men. Thus today a woman, who is willing to bear the equal burden that men have traditionally borne, can achieve whatever goals she desires.15The Nature Of ArmyThe Army necessarily differs from civil society. A liberal democracy like ours faces a paradox when it comes to relationship between the military situations as such and society at large. The military is not governed in accordance with principles of justice and liberalism that characterize the very society it defends. Behaviour that is acceptable, indeed even protected in civil society is prohibited in the military. The military restricts the freedom of movement of its member. It restricts speech, prohibits certain(prenominal) relationships between members, such as fraternization. Why? Because if the military fails, the society it protects may not survive. Experience has taught us that certain behaviour is destructive of good order, discipline and morale, without which a military organisation will certainly fail. The goal of military policy is military effectiveness.Hence two sets of values are on a collision course. Military and Civil. Equality and opportunity are noble ideals but they have no place in the battlefield where it is a question of living and dying. This was succinctly summed up by American marine Corps General Robert Barrow in a Senate hearing, It is not about womens rights, equal opportunity, and career assignments for sweetener purposes for selection to higher work. It is about combat effectiveness, combat readiness, and so we are talking National Security.Nature Of works EnvironmentSince the services have only seen the presence of men (except on the medical side), gentlemen officers have an emplacement problem which prevents them from accepting ladies among them as co officers and this is bound to aggravate if these ladies were competing with gentlemen officers for promotions as well. However the fact that the gentlemen officers have the choice of a permanent commission gives them a professional security. Although they perceive the lady officers as a s hort-term threat now, it will aggravate once this threat becomes a long-term threat. Further, the socio cultural material body of patriarchal domination prevents the gentlemen officers from accepting lady officers as social equals. Traits that are chauvinistically associated by men for women in society are piled upon the lady officers as well. Whereas for those lady officers to whom a career in the services is what they want to do in life the sense of job insecurity is like a Damocles Sword reprieve over their heads. Many dont know exactly what they will do after having served in a career which is high commitment and high risk one and gives them prestige, status and perks that would no longer be there once they leave the service.16Further during the service years of a gentlemen officer in the army, be it keep arm or combat arm, he is on a whirlwind tour of the country to include the stark high altitude terrain of the North, the dry sultry sand dunes of the deserts in the West, the rain and leech infested jungles of the northeastern United States and long tenures of deployment on the International Border or the Line of Control without even the basic necessities of life. Under such conditions when the lady officers are also expected to stand by the side of their male counterparts notwithstanding the occupational hazards draws out certain physical and physiological issues involved with their behaviour.The issues thrown up are- material and physiological issues.Unit Cohesion and Military Effectiveness.Sociological issues.Administrative issues.Physical IssuesWomen if granted commission in Infantry may be called upon to serve in combat zone sometime or the other, in her career. The most common reason for opposing women in combat is that they largely lack the physical strength to perform effectively in a combat environment. Studies conducted in the United States have find that on average men are 40 percent stronger than women. Contrary to what some seem to bel ieve, technology has not overcome the importance of physical strength in the Army. Brawn will count for more than computer smarts any day. It is felt that when women cannot meet the requirements or rigours of a job men must take up the slack.17Body Composition / Muscular Strength / Cardio-Respiratory Capacity. The West point and General Accounting persona (GAO) studies reveal that body composition (both physical and anatomic) favors men. Specifically women experience more difficulty in lifting overweight loads, road marching, carrying loads, running and throwing than men do. Women generally require more time to perform these tasks. Additionally they must perform at higher percentage of their physical abilities, leading to earlier fatigue. The reasons are that they have less muscle mass, more fat, which accumulates on buttocks, arms and thighs which lowers the center of gravity offering more resistance when running. They have less bone mass, wider pelvic structure and lower aerobic capacity than men.18Injury. Research findings have indicated a high risk for injuries during Army basic combat training. During training, 51% of women and 27% of men were injured which was cerebrate to a lower level of fitness when compared to men and resulted in an average time loss of 13 days training. During this study, women participated in an integrated conditioning programme and completed extensive road marches article of clothing combat boots. Incidence of injury was related to greater body weight and body fat and special leg strength.19Physiological IssuesPregnancy is a major female health issue, which contributes to major attrition among women in the Army. During pregnancy, womens duties are often severely curtailed. This curtailment typically includes no field duty, limited physical training, limited standing at attention. Many women experience severe premenstrual syndromes. This problem can be potentially dysfunctional for units with many lady officers. This is especi ally true if there is an involuntary tendency for women living in close quarters to synchronize their menstrual cycles.20However in an interview during the Gulf War some women soldiers who got pregnant told no one and stuck it out because they did not want to let their team down. Other women soldiers had their babies and half dozen months later rejoined their units. Women in Army advocates argue that the average woman is pregnant for a very slender portion of her productive life. There are many women who never become pregnant. They argue that data are inconclusive about pain and discomfort of menstruation. Rather women are more conscious of their health problems than men which explains a higher incidence of routine medical visits by women than men.21Legal IssuesThe Constitutions in most positive countries including India provide for equality in l