Feminine force

Soon to pass out from the Officers’ Training Academy in Madras as an officer and a gentlewoman is Poona’s Arnavaz Daruwalla who topped the merit list for selection to the 24th Short Service Commission for Women in the Indian Army. "Arnavaz had been confident of clearing the entrance exam, but she never expected to stand first,” says father Kersi. "She did well in all aspects of the exam (including rigorous physical and psycho­logical testing, medical examination, group discussion, etc),” adds mo­ther Dinaz.

Kersi gives credit to his parents, Shera and Ardeshir, both now 89, who "have really struggled very hard to look after their four children and then eight of their grandchildren till they completed their schooling and college.”

Into the first month of the six-month course, 22-year-old Daruwalla will be posted to any part of India after the training. The short service commission involves a five-year tenure, extendable by another five years. Daruwalla is, as per (Retd) Gen Adi Sethna, the first Parsi girl to join the Indian Army in the 11 years since the services were opened up to women in India (see "Contours of a community,” Parsiana, February 2004).

Daruwalla: first on the merit list

Daruwalla’s interest in joining the forces was sparked off particularly when an ex military man, Col Khandekar who runs an academy in Poona which prepares students for entry into the services, visited her institution when she was in her first year at the Nowrosjee Wadia College. Having completed her BSc (Hons) in Physics in 2002, Daruwalla was into her final semester of MSc (Physics) when she was selected to join the army. "She has given her practicals and has applied for permission to be allowed to sit for the finals,” explains Kersi. "In case she cannot come now, she will complete the MSc after the training.”

A National Cadet Corps (NCC) member who obtained her ‘C’ certificate from the NCC Air Wing, Daru­walla had attended a Microlight Power Flying Training Camp at the beautiful campus of the National Defense Academy in Khadak­vasla, Poona in January 2002.

Outgoing by temperament and "determined to succeed,” Daruwalla’s varied activities have seen her participate in national integration camps and win awards as a member of the Rotaract Club of Pune Hillside whose president she was in 2000-2001.

Taking in their stride the fact that postings in future will be difficult, Dinaz voices both parents’ feelings: "Yes, for sure we supported her decision. I am always with my children in whatever they want to do.” Son Khushroo, who did his engineering in telecommunications/electronics in Poona, is currently working with the American company Honeywell in Bangalore.

Hilla P. Guzder