By Mukesh Kaushik
Nathu La (Indo-China border): In one of the most
difficult Indian frontiers facing a formidable and assertive neighbour like
China, she is the one and the only woman officer in the entire brigade at Nathu
La, between India and China. She is the eyes and ears for hundreds of troops as
provides them real time critical information.
Captain Swati Singh is posted in 63 Brigade of the Indian
Army which is deployed in eastern sector in Sikkim near Nathu La pass
overlooking China. She is Signals incharge in the Brigade and her
duty is to keep alive lines of communications for the troops posted in her
area.
Captain Singh had chosen the military uniform over a very
lucrative career in a multinational software company. “I was being offered a
post of software engineer by Infosys, but in the meanwhile I cleared the exam
of the services and without giving any second thought I opted for the later”
she said proudly, in an interview to the correspondent.
She is the first generation military officer in her family of
engineers. Her younger sister, an engineer like her, has opted for a private
job in Larsen and Toubro. Captain Singh hails from Lucknow, a city of Nawabs
from where she did her engineering in Babu Banarsi Das Institute of Technology.
Her father, who works of the Central Water Board, inspired her to join the
Indian Army, she said.
“I joined army two years ago and I was commissioned in 17th
Division in Sikkim. For the last one year I am in this brigade and despite
being only woman officer I never felt alone or awkward here.” She said. Her
Brigade Head Quarter is in Thegu near Nathu La and it takes at least five hours
of bumpy motor ride to reach out to Gangtok. “Life is not easy in military but
that is what I was fully aware of when I decided to join the army,” she said.
She adds, “Had I joined the Infosys, I may be serving in
bustling and lively city like Bangalore but that would certainly not have given
me the same kind of satisfaction I draw here while performing my duty in this
inhospitable terrain.” Wishing that more and more girls should opt for joining
Indian army she said, “Terrains or training may be difficult but our
organisation is certainly very caring and friendly for the women officers.”
(The correspondent was part of the official entourage of agency reporters taken to Nathu La as part of Independence Day Celebrations. Chinese Army officials had also joined the function.)
