Mumbai: As a child, you would have, from the kitchen doorway, watched your mother, draped in a sari with a small spot of sindoor gracing her forehead, stirring warmth and care into bubbling pots. For the child, she is the first hero, the one whose hands heal, whose voice comforts, and whose whole presence completes your home.

Beyond those silken folds of the sari and the gentle smiles lies a spirit forged in steel. When the winds of duty call, the same woman sheds the sari to don a soldier’s uniform, her sindoor now shining beneath a war helmet.

From nurturer, she becomes the protector, marching across mountains, flying past stormy skies, carving her path through the rough seas, all commanding operations that shape the fate of a nation. Within her, the soul of India breathes, gentle as a lullaby, and fierce as a battle cry.

Women have successfully broken stereotypes and entered every field, and now they have marked their presence in the armed forces that hitherto perhaps had mostly men in uniform. Women officers and soldiers are part of the navy, army and air force, discharging their duties in some of the most difficult situations that women have to handle.

Women jawans walk long distances and carry relief material on their backs, with a determination to reach far and cut-off regions, often to rescue people who are stuck without food or water.

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, had some of these brave hearts launching attacks on enemy territory with surgical precision. Even the fact that they had to travel into the airspace of a hostile enemy country didn’t deter them, as they were willing to face any consequences.

And Operation Sindoor isn’t a one-time event; more would follow, and that is part of a larger change happening in the Indian armed forces. More women are joining the military in different roles, as engineers, doctors, pilots, and combat officers.

As per the Ministry of Defence, the number of women in the Indian armed forces in various capacities has been steadily rising over the last decade. As of 2023, over 11,000 women were serving in different branches of the armed forces, including permanent commission roles in the army, navy, and air force.

Women pilots are flying fighter jets like Rafale and Sukhoi-30, have actively participated in Republic Day parades, led marching contingents, and protected border areas.

In 2021, women officers were posted on a warship in the navy for the first time, and their numbers are expected to gradually increase. All these are symbolic of the real progress being made in terms of employment and deployment.

Operation Sindoor reminded the nation that women are ready and willing to serve, even in the most dangerous situations. They do not ask for any special treatment either, they just need a chance to prove themselves. And when that chance is offered, they grab it to shine brightly. The courage, skill, and dedication shown by women during rescue operations is something that every Indian can feel proud of.

This sends a powerful message – that our nation’s safety, progress, and compassion lies in the hands of both men and women. With every mission like Operation Sindoor, women in the armed forces are not just breaking barriers; they are building a stronger, more inclusive future for India.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior officer in the Indian Army’s Signals Corps and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force gained national attention when they gave the official briefing on Operation Sindoor.

The women officers highlighted the mission’s strategy and results, showcasing professionalism and unity of India’s defence forces. This was a historic moment, symbolising the growing role and importance of women in India’s defence sector.

Women are the soul of our tricolour, fierce, free and serene at once, and Operation Sindoor once again highlighted this.