Sinner becomes Saint :)

                                                                                                                                         
According to the sutta and commentarial texts, omens seen at the time of Angulimala's birth (the flashing of weapons in the city, and the appearance of the 'constellation of thieves' in the sky) indicated that Angulimala would become a robber. Angulimala's father, the Brahmin chaplain to the king of Kosala, named him Ahimsaka ("harmless" - derived from the Sanskrit and Pali word Ahimsa), as an attempt to deter the dark fate predicted at his birth (Pad indicates that he was initially named Himsaka ("harmful"), but that the name was later changed).

Angulimala was sent to Taxila to study under a well-known Brahmin guru. There he excelled in his studies and became the teacher's favourite student, enjoying special privileges in his teacher's house. However, the other students grew jealous of Ahimsaka's speedy progress and sought to turn his master against him. To that end, they made it seem as though Ahimsaka had seduced the master's wife and boasted that he was wiser than the guru. Unwilling or unable to attack Ahimsaka directly (Pad states that Ahimsaka was as "strong as seven elephants", while Ps states that the teacher worried that his business would suffer if he was found to have murdered a student), the teacher said that Ahimsaka's training was complete, but that he must provide the traditional final gift offered to a guru before the teacher would grant his approval. As his payment, the teacher demanded 1,000 fingers, each taken from a different victim, thinking that Angulimala would be killed in the course of seeking this grisly prize (Pad states that Angulimala was required to fetch 1,000 fingers from right hands, seemingly unaware that this could be achieved by killing 200 people. Ps states, even more strangely, that he was told to "kill a thousand legs", and gathered fingers only as an aid to keeping an accurate count).


Sources indicate that one of his motivations may have been the unquestioning obedience to the guru - an echo of the higher principles governing his earlier life. But tradition reports that it was probably his innate disposition to violence. In his previous life, he was a Yakkha - a man-eating spirit with superhuman strength. The guru's instructions may have also aroused a strange attraction for killing, or could be seen as a challenge to his manly prowess. It was reported that in all his past lives, two traits were prominent: his physical strength and his lack of compassion. It is also suggested that he was in fact cast out of his Guru's house, branding him an outcast among Brahmins. Being unable to find acceptance anywhere, he turned to brigandry, murdering pilgrims and traders passing through the wilderness, and collecting a finger each from their right hands.

As to the giving of goodbye gifts, this was customary in ancient India. We find an example in the Book of Pausya (Pausyaparvan, Mbh.1,3) of the Vedic epic Mahábháratha. Here the teacher sends his disciple Uttanka away after Uttanka has proven himself worthy of being trustworthy and in the possession of all the Vedic and Dharmashastric teachings. Uttanka says to his teacher: "What can I do for you that pleases you (kim te priyam karaváni), because thus it is said: Whoever answers without (being in agreement with) the Dharma, and whoever asks without (being in agreement with) the Dharma (the Law in the literal sense of the word), either occurs: one dies or one attracts animosity." Friedrich Wilhelm (Prüfung und Initiation im Buche Pausya und in der Biographie des Náropa, Wiesbaden 1965, p. 11) maintains that similar phraseology already occurs in the "Book of Manu" (II,111) and in the "Institutes of Vishnu". I.e., taking leave of one's teacher and promising to do whatever this teacher asks of you brings, according to the Vedic teachings, enlightenment or similar attainment. It is therefore not unusual that Angulimála did his teacher's horrible bidding, although being a good and kind person at heart, in the knowledge that in the end he would reap the highest attainment.


Life as a highway murderer

Ahimsaka became a highwayman, killing travelers who passed through the forest. When the people of the kingdom began to avoid the roads, he entered the villages and dragged people from their homes. He never took clothes or jewels from his victims, only fingers. To keep count of the number of victims that he had taken, he strung them on a thread and hung them on a tree. However because birds began to eat the flesh from the fingers, he started to wear them around his neck as a garland. Thus he came to be known as Angulimala ("garland (or necklace) of fingers").

Meeting the Buddha

Villagers petitioned the king of Kosala, who vowed to hunt down Angulimala. Fearing for her son's life, Angulimala's mother set out to find him and warn him of the king's intent. The Buddha perceived with his "divine eye" (faculty of clairvoyance) that Angulimala had slain 999 victims, and was desperately seeking a thousandth. If the Buddha encountered Angulimala that day, he would become a monk and subsequently attain Nirvana. If Angulimala encountered his mother instead, he would slay her as his thousandth victim and fall into hell for millennia as a matricide.

The Buddha set off to intercept Angulimala, despite being warned by the people of the village in which he was staying. On the road through the forest of Kosala, Angulimala first saw his mother who came to warn him of the impending arrival of the kings' army. Angulimala, after some deliberation, decided to make her his 1000th victim. But then when Buddha also arrived, he chose to kill him instead. He drew his sword, and started running towards the Buddha. But although Angulimala was running as fast as he could, he couldn't catch up with the Buddha who was walking calmly. "The Blessed One willed a feat of psychic power such that Angulimala, though running with all his might, could not catch up with the Blessed One walking at normal pace" (MN 86, translation from Thanissaro Bhikkhu). This bewildered Angulimala so much that he called to the Buddha to stop. The Buddha said that he himself had already stopped, and that it was Angulimala who should stop. Angulimala asked for further explanation, after which the Buddha said that he had stopped harming living beings, and that Angulimala was still harming and hurting living beings. After hearing this, Angulimala changed his ways, vowed to cease his life as a brigand and joined the Buddhist order.


Life as a monk

Later, King Pasenadi (the king of Kosala) set out to find and kill Angulimala. He stopped first to pay a visit to the Buddha and his followers at the monastery where they dwelled. He explained to the Buddha his purpose, and the Buddha asked how the king would respond if he were to discover that Angulimala had given up the life of a highwayman and become a monk. The king said that he would salute him and offer to provide for him in his monastic vocation. The Buddha then revealed that Angulimala sat only a few feet away, his hair and beard shaven off, a member of the Buddhist order. The king, astounded, offered to donate robe materials to Angulimala, and then returned to his palace.

Later, Angulimala came across a young woman undergoing a difficult labor. He went to the Buddha and asked him what he could do to ease her pain. The Buddha told Angulimala to go to the woman and say:

'Sister, since I was born I do not recall intentionally killing a living being. Through this truth may there be wellbeing for you, wellbeing for your fetus.'

Angulimala pointed out that it would be untrue for him to say this. The Buddha offered this revised stanza:

'Sister, since I was born with the noble birth (became a monk), I do not recall intentionally killing a living being. Through this truth may there be wellbeing for you, wellbeing for your fetus.' The Buddha was making a word-play here on the word "born" to support Angulimala, who was suffering from severe remorse which was badly obstructing his meditation, of his renewed commitment to harmlessness since becoming a monk.

After Angulimala delivered this benediction, the woman safely gave birth to her child. This verse, commonly called the Angulimala paritta, continues to be recited at the blessings of houses or pregnant women in Theravada countries.

This helped Angulimala focus his mind on his basic meditation subject. Before, there would always appear in his mind's eye, the place in the jungle where he had slain so many people. After performing the Act of Truth, he was seen to bring safety to people and people started to approach him and provide him with almsfood.

At last, his earlier name Ahimsaka fully befitted him. Most of the people had gained full confidence in his inner transformation and there was no lack of support for him.

However a resentful few could not forget that he was responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. Unable to win revenge through the law, they took matters into their own hands. With sticks and stones, they attacked him as he walked for alms.

With a bleeding head, torn outer robe and a broken alms bowl, Angulimala managed to return to the monastery. The Buddha encouraged Angulimala to bear his torment with equanimity; he indicated that Angulimala was experiencing the fruits of the karma that would otherwise have condemned him to hell. This illustrates the Buddhist belief that while the effects of karma are inescapable, the form that they take and the schedule on which they occur can be modified by later actions—in this case, Angulimala experienced physical suffering during the course of his last life, rather than experiencing torment in another birth for a much longer period of time.


Being an arahant, Angulimala remained firm and invulnerable in mind and heart. But his body, the symbol and fruit of previous kamma was still exposed to the effects of his former evil deeds. As an arahant, he needed no words of consolation, but a reminder of the kammic concatenation of cause and effect, which still has to be endured until the end.

When he entered Sāvatthi for alms, he was attacked by the mob, but on the admonition of the Buddha, endured their wrath as penance for his former misdeeds.


 As Angulimala says, "Some prisoners are tamed with punishment of a stick, or a hook or a whip. I was tamed without a stick or a weapon. I was tamed by the kind words of the Compassionate" Buddha."

A  COURTESY OF   www.wikipedia.org

                                                     A GIFT OF MANKIND !!! LOVE U :) <3                                          

                                                                                    

                                                                                                     

Saxphone

                                                                                 
The newest of the woodwinds, it was invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian. He was born in 1814, and as a child he learned to make instruments in his father’s shop. At the Brussels Conservatory, he studied the clarinet and the flute. In 1840, Sax decided to construct an instrument that would fulfill the middle range sound of a military band. The sound that he was seeking would be between the woodwind tone of the clarinet, and brass sound of the trumpet. He moved to Paris in 1842, and completed his work in 1845. The created instrument he named the "saxophone". It was soon taken up by many French orchestral composers. The saxophone started to be used in little orchestras in the 1800’s. It was also popular in military bands. It gained greater popularity in the 1920’s because of jazz music.

The reason a saxophone is considered a woodwind is because the way it is played is very similar to the clarinet. It is made of brass, and is the only woodwind that has never been made of wood. It has a single reed mouthpiece. It is made of a long, bent tube with holes in it, which are covered by pads called keys. The player operates the keys, opening and closing them, determining the pitch. The saxophone has three parts: the body, the neck and the mouthpiece. Soprano saxophones are straight, whereas deeper-toned saxophones have a bent crook and an upturned bell.

Since saxophones and clarinets are similar, many clarinetists, in their spare time, also play the saxophone. There are at least six different types of saxophones in use today, the most popular being the alto sax. The smallest of the saxophone family is the soprano, which is only 16" long. But the biggest is the contrabass, being 6-1/2 feet tall. The saxophone is used more in jazz and military bands than in orchestras, though it is included in some classical music.


The range for the alto saxophone is from the D-flat below middle C going up to an octave above middle C, and up to the A-flat Above that. 

   A COURTESY OF     www.library.thinkquest.org 

                                                                                          

Let's Go

                                                                           
The nation of Austria has a long and colorful and sometimes painful historical record. The country that now stands as the Republic of Austria has seen the good times as well as the bad. It has been through various stages and phases of turmoil and warfare as well as progress.

The history of Austria actually dates back to prehistoric times when it was inhabited and over run by different tribes. The Celts, Vandals and Romans are amongst the many tribes that have set foot on the lands of Austria. The country now known as Austria once existed as a part of the Roman Empire for several centuries. The fate of Austria began to change after the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century.


The collapse of the Roman Empire paved the way for further invasions. By the 8th century Charles the Great attacked and conquered Austria. He is known to have been a great patron of Christianization and colonization. The territories that came under the rule of Charles the Great were then later bequeathed to the House of Babenberg.

The interesting thing to notice is that the name Austria is not to be found in the written records that exist prior to this period. The first ever written records that show the name Austria belong to the above mentioned time period. It is to be found in the documents describing the Babenberg March.


The Habsburgs took over the dying Babenberg line round about the 13th century. The Habsburgs house remained the ruling party of Austria up until the end of the First World War. Since the Habsburgs ruled the country for such a long time they managed to have a big impact on the cultural development of Austria. Their influences are obvious in the art and architecture that the nation has to display.


It was under the Habsburgs rule that Austria began to experience massive expansion. The Habsburgs married with other royal families of the world bringing in different territories into the Austrian Empire. It was during this era that Austria became the breeding ground for some of the most talented artists and musicians that the world has ever seen.

The end of monarchy and the birth of the Republic

The Holy Roman Empire came to an end with Napoleon’s victory over the Austrian forces in 1806. The Austro-Hungarian Empire came into existence by the middle of the 19th century. It included German, Serbian, Czech and other lands that made it one of the central powers of the time.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after the First World War after which monarchy came to a complete end and Austria became a Republic in 1918. In 1938 Austria was forced to submit to the German Third Reich. Then in 1945 Austria was again declared as a republic due to the victory of the allies over Germany.

It was after the declaration of 1945 that the land of Austria was constitutionally secured. From then onwards Austria declared its intentions to exist as a permanent neutral country and till date exists according to those principles. In 1995 Austria acceded to the European Union.

A COURTESY OF  kwintessential.co.uk

                                                                              

I Have to Fight With Myself, To Overcome Me ! ;)

                                                                       
                                                                           
Mind Control is the establishment of that specific state in which the individual is completely liberated from all unintended and previously uncontrolled thought-forms. He is a master over his being, over his mind and he enjoys the bliss, wisdom and power of being absolutely free: Free from the mind, hence free from desire, mental limitations and free from suffering.


It's a process called Self Realization or Enlightenment: Freeing yourself from the conditioned mind establishes the most profound experience of joy and inner freedom. Liberation of this kind is what we are all, consciously or not, longing for. It is this longing that drives us to do the things we do. Somewhere deep inside we all long for freedom, satisfaction and pure ecstasy. The only illusion/difficulty here is that most of us seek for it in all but the right place..


The conditioned mind is mis-taking the pleasurable, transitory shapes and forms of the external world for the highest joy coming only from within. This is the Illusion (in Sanskrit terminology: Maya) of the mind and it clouds our vision to see what is true and what not.

Because of the mind's tendency to cloud our vision; we constantly search in the wrong directions for something which is actually found in only one 'direction'.


What we are looking for is not a direction in the common, three-dimensional sense of the word; the 'direction' we are trying to find is that one, mystical, space- and timeless yet practical shift of Consciousness evolving inwards.


This is where Yoga and Meditation Techniques and practices become an incredible aid.

Yoga is not merely retaining physical postures (called: Asanas):
Many people nowadays belief and promote yoga as a form of physical exercise alone. Yoga has surprisingly little to do with improving bodily flexibility. Training the body is just one of the lower stages of Yoga which can be very helpful but is not at all the actual goal as meant and defined by the word "Yoga", meaning: Union.

Yoga practice reaches all the way from retaining physical postures to attaining that state of absolute Mind Control and Enlightenment. This site's educational purpose is, primarily, that of the higher stages of Yoga science, as it is taught by the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali.

These higher stages are, more directly than the lower stages, about gaining control over your mind and transforming into a true master of your being; of your Self. Mind Control is that state of mastery out of which the experience of Yoga or union arises and establishes as your primary experience of life.


We are looking everywhere for the keys to the ultimate freedom and enlightenment except there where the only key is to be found: Inside the one doing all the searching... and it awaits there to be found for everyone.

A COURTESY OF yoga-mind-control.com
 

                                                                              

A Tale of Desert

                                                                                    

Travel Guide China claims that in the Uigur language, Takla Makan means 'you can get into it but can never get out'. Even if untrue, such a label fits such a large, dry, dangerous place for humans and most animals. Wang Yue and Dong Guangrun of the Desert Research Institute in Lanzhou, China, say that in the Taklamakan Desert average annual rainfall is less than 40 mm (1.57 inches). It is about 10 mm -- that's just over a third of an inch -- in the center and 100 at the bases of the mountains, according to Terrestrial Ecoregions - Taklimakan desert (PA1330). Large lakes, including Lop Nor and Kara Koschun, have dried up, so over the millennia the area of desert has increased. The inhospitable approximately 1000x500 km (193,051 sq. mi.) oval Taklamakan Desert is far from any ocean, and so hot, dry, and cold, by turns, with shifting sand dunes covering 85% of the surface, propelled by northerly winds, and sand storms, that it came as a surprise to find how comfortably people would have lived there 4000 years ago. That was part of the surprise, the other part is that mummies found in the region, perfectly preserved by the arid conditions, are presumed to be Indo-European-speaking Caucasians. Science, in a 2009 article, reports
"In the northeastern edge of the desert, archaeologists from 2002 until 2005 excavated an extraordinary cemetery called Xiaohe, which has been radiocarbon-dated to as early as 2000 B.C.E.... A vast oval sand hill covering 25 hectares, the site is a forest of 140 standing poles marking the graves of long-lost society and environment. The poles, wood coffins, and carved wooden statues with pronounced noses come from the poplar forests of a far cooler and wetter climate."

One of the world's largest deserts, the Taklamakan, is located in the northwest region of modern China, in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. There are oases located on two routes around the desert that served as important trading spots on the Silk Road. Along the north, the route went by the Tien Shan Mountains and along the south, the Kunlun Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Economist André Gunder Frank, who traveled along the northern route with UNESCO, says the southern route was most used in ancient times. It joined up with the northern route at Kashgar to head into India/Pakistan, Samarkand and Bactria.

                                                         A COURTESY OF ABOUT.COM 

                                                                             

Labz

Labz Hazaaron Labz 

Mere Ass Pass Bahete Hain

Labz Hazaaron Labz

Mere Saath Saath Chalte Hain

Har Labz Ka Kuch Na Kuch Matlab Hain

Yeh Labz Zor se Cheekh Ke Kuch Kaheta Hain

Lekin Unn Lafzon Ka Kya Anjam Hoga

Jo Chupke Se Bante Hain Dil Mein 

Aur Chupke Se Hi Bigar Jate Hain

Kavi Kavi Sochti Hoon Asmaan Mein

Laakhon Bijliyan Karbat Le Rahi Hain Har Lamha

Unki Badan Dikhai Dete Hain 

Lekin Labz Nehi Sunai Dete

Dariya Ke Pani Bahete Bahete

Apni Kahani Kahete Kahete

Jab Thak Jati Hain Aur Sukh Jati Hain Beech Rah Mein

Ya Phir Parbat Ke Barfile Thandi Sakth Agosh Mein

Jaam Ke Neela Ban Jati Hain

Lekin Tab Bhi Koi Labz Sunai Nehi Dete 

Yeh Hawayeen Bahe Rahin Hain

Berang Hain Andekha Hain Anchuah Hain 

Main Shaash Le Rahi Hoon Aur Jee Rahin Hoon

Lekin Iss Karishma-e-Kudrat Ki Koi Labz Sunai Nehi Dete 

Mere Ghar Ki Dewaren, Kapre,Parden,Bartan

Woh Har Ek Cheez Jo Roz Main Apni Haathon Se

Safai Karti Hoon , Woh Saare Cheeze Dheere Dheere

Meri Aakhon Ke Samne Purane Ban Rahin Hain

Lekin Unki Koi Labz Sunai Nehi Dete

Har Raat Ko Jag Ke Main Kitabe Parti Hoon

Sahi Galat Sawal Jawab Apni Dimag Mein Bharti Hoon

Woh Haar Ek Kitab Ke Panne Pila Rang Le Rahin Hain

Mere Ajnabi Ruh Ko Har Roz Mujhse Pahechan Karwa Rahin Hain

Har Ek Panna Bahut Patli Ho Gayi Hain Aur Tut Phar Rahin Hain

Lekin Tazzab Ki Baat Phir Bhi Uski Khud Ki Koi Labz Sunai Nehi Dete

Ab Rahe Gayi Hoon Main Ek Aam Insan

Jo Haar Halat Ke Saath Samjhota Karti Hoon

Aur Kavi Kavi Waqt Se BeFaidah Jang Bhi Karti Hoon

Main Auron Ki Tarha Jahan Hass Na Hain Hasti Hoon

Jahan Rona Hain Roti Hoon Aur Janwar Ki Tarha Bhagti Hoon  

Har Roz Roti Ko Chulhe Mein Sekhne Ke Liyeh

Lekin Roti Jab Pakti Hain Aag Mein Toh Uski Labz Sunai Nehi Dete

Roz Piti  Hoon Main Adhuren Armaano Ki Ghut

Roz Koi Khass Rishtey Haathon Se Jati Hain Chut

Roz Meri Kismat Duniya Ke Bazaron Mein Jati Hain Lut

Aur Meri Jalti Khoon Bebas Hoke Mujhse Jati Hain Ruth

Khudah Ki Tarha Inn Sab Palon Mein Bhi 

Meri Muh Se Koi Labz Sunai Nehi Dete 

                                                           Silence The Big Word !!! :-)         
                                                              Hissssssssssssssssssh ! 

M-e-Z

                                                                                 
                                                                                

Bold Brave Beautiful (SHE) :)

                                                                                      

Women in the Indian Armed Forces

(By-Sajita Nair)

In the modern world, there are no domains of work that women haven’t delved into. Words such as chairman and cameraman have been rephrased as chairperson and cameraperson, to accommodate women. Many a male dominated work place has crumbled under the power of the woman - her spirit and energy. The Indian Armed Forces, which for long was considered a male dominated workplace, now has confident, bold women, molding into every role and setting examples for everyone. Lieutenant General Puneeta Arora, a lady officer from the Army Medical Corps, heads the prestigious defense institution, the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), in Pune. In the land of Razia Sultana and Rani of Jhansi, it comes as no surprise that women make their mark in the Armed Forces.

The Indian armed forces comprises of Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was set up as an Armed Force more recently in 1978. Due to their unique roles as protectors of the nation’s land, sea and airspace respectively, the nature of work in each service is different. Apart from their main roles of defending the country, they may also be required to perform tasks to ease civil administration during times of crisis. The Indian president is the supreme commander of the armed forces. In carrying out the primary role of defending the nation, the armed forces personnel are bound by certain rules that govern their conduct. But, they also enjoy certain privileges that their civilian counterparts do not have access to. Passion for adventure activities and sports can pay off, as one can represent the defense teams and even the country.


Bright, young and energetic men and women make up the bake up the bulk of manpower in the armed forces. Recruitment is voluntary, which implies that every citizen of India is eligible to be a part of it, provided he/she fulfils the specified criteria for selection. Caste, region or religion, do not come in the way of the selection process, thereby making it a heterogeneous work place. Personnel retire earlier than many other government sectors, to keep the armed forces team, young and dynamic. Manpower in each of the services is broadly divided into ‘Commissioned officers’, ‘JCO’s (Junior Commissioned Officers)’ and ‘Other Ranks’ based on their qualifications and seniority.ake up the bulk of manpower in the armed forces. Recruitment is voluntary, which implies that every citizen of India is eligible to be a part of it, provided he/she fulfils the specified criteria for selection. Caste, region or religion, do not come in the way of the selection process, thereby making it a heterogeneous work place. Personnel retire earlier than many other government sectors, to keep the armed forces team, young and dynamic. Manpower in each of the services is broadly divided into ‘Commissioned officers’, ‘JCO’s (Junior Commissioned Officers)’ and ‘Other Ranks’ based on their qualifications and seniority.


Entry Of Women

The role of women in the armed forces for a long time, was limited to the medical profession i.e. doctors and nurses. In 1992, the doors were thrown open for women entry as regular officers in aviation, logistics, law, engineering and executive cadres. Thousands of spirited young women applied against advertisements and it was a turning point in the history of time. These women chose a new field where they had to painstakingly pave a path for the others to follow.


The initial adjustment problems weren’t as much for the women as it was for the men. Wrapped in their tradition of chivalry and respect to women, most gentlemen officers could not treat their female counterparts at par with themselves. Their 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 create 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 term ‘sisters-in-arms’ as equivalent to ‘brothers-in-arms’.


Currently, women in the non-medical cadre, serve as Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers. Under this type of commission, they can serve in the armed forces for a period ranging from 5-14 years. On release they can pursue a career in the civil sector. SSC officers are released with gratuity and can avail some benefits as ex-serviceperson, but they do not get pension. Women in the medical branch i.e. doctors and nurses can serve as Permanent Commissioned (PC) officers and are eligible for pension after retirement. They also have the option to serve as Short Service Commissioned officers.

Eligible women, who qualify various tests successfully, serve as Short Service Commissioned officers in the following branches of the Armed Forces.

ARMY: EME, Signals, Engineers, Army Education Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Service Corps, Intelligence and Judge Advocate General’s branch.

NAVY: All branches of the Navy (except submariners and divers).

AIR FORCE: Flying (transport aircraft and helicopters), Technical and Administration branches.

COAST GUARD: All branches of the Coast Guard.


An Officer and a Lady

In the modern day of electronic warfare, it’s 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 woman’s physical capability. Women have done extremely well in physical training 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. They carry on this tradition and keep setting new records.

As commissioned officers at the age of 22-23 years, they may often have subordinates older 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 adorn differentiate them from each other. Despite the good quality of life, they may sometimes undergo hardships due to the nature 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. Being 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 annual 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 experience and qualities imbibed while in service make them much in demand in the private sector.

Although the path these women have chosen 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 won’t be long before these forbidden avenues are thrown open to them.

www.gatewayforindia.com   BHARAT MATA KI  JAI, JAI HIND  :)