Braving all odds, Indian Army’s Captain Kalpana Kundu successfully undertook a high-altitude patrol in the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, 20 June, to provide medical cover to the Army personnel deployed along the Line of Actual Control.
Kundu is a part of Army Medical Corps, which is a specialist wing of the Indian Army that primarily provides medical services to all personnel – both serving and veterans.
Following Kundu’s patrol, the Indian Army in a statement, praised her stating that she volunteered for the important patrol.
“In this rare feat she volunteered and accompanied an important patrol in an inhospitable terrain to provide medical cover to her brethren deployed along the Line of Actual Control. This was in the true tradition of Indian Army where officers lead from the front.", the Indian Army said in a statement.
While women join the Army as officers, they are not deployed in forward operational areas.
A senior Army officer, speaking to The Times of India said:
“Capt Kundu can set a trend. While women officers do participate in outdoor activities like mountaineering, white water rafting and para gliding with their male counterparts, they are not posted to advanced areas. I know of many women officers who areitching to get posted to such areas, even for a short period of time.”
(With inputs from The Times of India)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)