Siachen - Central News Hub

First woman officer posted in Siachen hopes to inspire girls

Shiva highlighted that nowadays adequate opportunities are given to women officers in all spheres of the job and they are employed equally at par in all with their male counterpart…reports Asian Lite News

Captain Shiva Chauhan, who became the first women officer to be posted at the world’s highest battlefield in Siachen glacier, on Monday expressed hope that more girls will join India Army after her accomplishment.

Captain Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed in Kumar Post, post completion of arduous training, at the highest battlefield of the world Siachen. “It is really a great experience and a great opportunity to be here first at Siachen. Moreover, I feel that from now onwards more women officers will be coming here serving this terrain and maybe might get inspired to join the Indian Army,” said Captain Shiva.

Sharing her journey, Captain from Fire and Fury Sappers said, “My life has many super excitements and the possibilities, anxiety of unknown after coming here (Siachen), I got to know about the other core deployed in this terrain. So it has been a great journey.”

Ahead of International Women’s Day, in a video posted by Indian Army, Captain Shiva Chauhan was seen taking part in activities like cycling and rock climbing amid extremely low temperatures in Siachen.

Shiva highlighted that nowadays adequate opportunities are given to women officers in all spheres of the job and they are employed equally at par in all with their male counterpart.

Shattering the glass ceiling! Meet Capt Shiva Chouhan, first woman officer deployed in Siachen #ITVideo #WomensDay | @chaiti pic.twitter.com/S9ih2FhbJZ
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) March 8, 2023

She also sent a message to those girls who aspire to get into the Indian Army, saying, “I would like to tell them that they have to be physically and mentally robust and should be mentally prepared that they can be sent to such (Siachen) type of terrains, and they have to move from place to place because this is what the job demands. This is a way of life, not just the job.”

After completing a month’s arduous training at Siachen Battle School along with other personnel, Capt Chauhan was deployed in Kumar Post at the world’s highest battlefield. The officer was commissioned into the army only in May 2021.

ALSO READ-India recalls capturing Quaid Post in Siachen

India recalls capturing Quaid Post in Siachen

It was on June 26, 1987 that the 8 JAK LI captured the Quaid Post (named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah) in Siachen at an altitude of 21,153 feet, a virtually impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls as high as 1500 feet on both sides which was occupied by Pakistani forces to dominate the entire region, reports Ateet Sharma

Thirty-four years after their exemplary valour created history on the highest battleground in the world, the heroics of Captain Bana Singh, Param Vir Chakra, Major Varinder Singh, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal and his team from the 8th Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (Siachen) are being recalled with a huge sense of pride by many Indians today.

It was on June 26, 1987 that the 8 JAK LI captured the Quaid Post (named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah) in Siachen at an altitude of 21,153 feet, a virtually impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls as high as 1500 feet on both sides which was occupied by Pakistani forces to dominate the entire region.

Naib Subedar Bana Singh, who volunteered to be a member of the team tasked to capture the Quaid Post, displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership under severe adverse conditions and was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra and the post was renamed as ‘Bana Top’ in his honour.

A memorial at the headquarters of the Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army in remembrance of members of the regiment who died or served in the Siachen Conflict.(WIKIPEDIA)

Along with Subedar Sanjay Kumar and Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, Captain Bana Singh is the only living recipient of the award.

Temperatures in the upper reaches of the 76 km glacier with mountain ranges on either side ranges between minus 30 degrees to minus 80 degrees centigrade and the average winter snowfall is 35 feet.

Bane Singh

It was in these extremely difficult and hazardous conditions that Singh, with a thin razor sharp ridge line on the flank, led his men through the dangerous route and inspired them by his indomitable courage and leadership.

Using ropes to climb the ice walls in numbing chillness, the heroic JCO and his men crawled and closed in on the enemy. In an unparalleled feat of raw courage and valour he moved from trench to trench, lobbing hand grenades and charging with his bayonet killing all the remaining enemy soldiers to capture the strategic post.

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JAK LI – a battle-hardened and decorated Regiment

The JAK LI Infantry Regiment with 17 battalions, is one of the most battle hardened and decorated Regiments of the Indian Army.

The battalion was raised as the First Battalion Border Scouts by volunteers who took up arms in the aftermath of communal passion and the smouldering embers of Partition to check the multitude of Kabailies intruding into Poonch on 18 December 1947.

‘Born in Battle and Purified in Blood’, the battalion was re-designated as 8th Jammu & Kashmir Militia on April 15, 1948. The Regiment, raised on December 2, 1972 from J&K Militia – and rechristened Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry on April 27, 1976 – has fought gallantly in the 1947-48, 1965 & 1971 Indo-Pak wars.

Siachen
In the 1971 War, the battalion was outnumbered but never outclassed in valour and fought the defensive battle successfully despite the enemy’s passion for Chhamb. For this the battalion was awarded the Battle Honour ï¿½ Laleali and Picquet 707.

The battalion yet again proved its mettle during its 2008 tenure at Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir when Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal, who laid down his life following the highest traditions of the Indian Army while fighting terrorists, was bestowed with the highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra (Posthumous).

With this, the battalion joined the elite group of ï¿½Bravest of the Brave’ battalions.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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