There are no gender-neutral battlefields.

The battlefield is an unforgiving place. It does not understand decency and civilised behaviour and it does   not give consideration to physical or physiological differences. Mountains do not become any less steep nor does the enemy stop firing because the adversary is not a male like him. Simply because the female soldier underwent diluted standards of physical fitness tests in the academy does not give her the right to slow down her comrades nor compromise their safety because she cannot keep pace with them. It does not give her the right to seek privileges or special dispensations on account of her gender because she has already demanded and been given equality when she demanded her right to enter the battlefield.

I am not for a moment suggesting that women are weak or unfit for battle. Our female athletes have displayed their prowess in the sports arena time and again. But in the stadium her opponents are of the same gender and there are rules that are strictly followed. The battlefield does not have such niceties. There are no referees nor any appeals. Might is right and the means don't matter.

But the honourable Supreme Court with its supreme wisdom opines that women are indeed equal to men and are fit for battle then who are we to think otherwise?

Let us accept their diktat gracefully. But for the sake of the men they will command and for the sake of the eventual security of the nation, let it be a level playing field for men and women alike. Let the selection process, requirements and physical standards be the same regardless of gender. As an example, consider the minimum height for a male candidate for joining the OTA, the stipulation for which is presumably based on the envisaged job requirements. 

Why should a male be at least 157.5 cm in height but a female is acceptable if she is 152 cm? Why should a Gentleman Cadet running 2.4 km in 10 minutes be rated "satisfactory" but a Lady Cadet doing the same run in 12 minutes be graded "excellent"? Where is the logic in this? Are we training them for different battlefields and different adversaries?

Lest I be branded as a narrow-minded male chauvinist, let us view this issue from a different perspective. Let us assume that the male and the female are truly equal in the battlefield and we have achieved gender equality by inducting women officers. The question now arises, are we not now indulging in socio-economic discrimination? Why only officers? Why not a similar opportunity for female soldiers? 

Throw open the doors for recruitment of women in every regimental centre. Let every infantry battalion, every armoured and artillery regiment be completely gender neutral. Otherwise, we are simply catering to the educated elite while neglecting the aspirations of other segments of society. And while at it, what about transgenders? Why are they being discriminated against? After all, history tells us that eunuchs were widely employed as security guards for harems in palaces?

The Chetwode motto says, "The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes first, always and every time". My sincere request to the honourable Court and other advocates for equality is, please pay heed to these wise words. The safety, honour and welfare of the country is far too precious, far too hard-earned to let it be compromised on the whims of those who are far removed from the reality of war. And my sincere request to the senior hierarchy of the military establishment is, please follow the Chetwode credo. Stand up for what is right, do not forget that "your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time".

Your subordinates will pay with their blood for the compromises that you make today. Think about it. Jai Hind!

- Colonel Ghosh

My take.

Very valid points that need to be taken into consideration by the stake holders before arriving at the decision of inducting women into combat! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores. Was quite busy with a host of small things in the morning to get the Thiruvonam activities going. Lekha had put an attractive 'pookkalam' at the verandah at the entrance of the house.

Suma had sent the chunk of the 'sadya' by 1100 hrs. Lekha had added on to it to make it complete.

Called up relations and friends to pass on onam wishes. There were many calls to attend and scores of messages to reply.

A quiet but memorable day!