India, May 18 -- A student of the Government Girls' Degree College once told me how she wants to join the armed forces despite opposition from her family. "I want to join the armed forces, but my parents are not allowing me to do so as they worry what relatives and society would say," she said. That day, I told her to rebel and compel her parents to let "you join the armed forces as the day you will wear the uniform; the same opinionated relatives would salute you."

I was reminded of this conversation as two brave women in uniform face disparaging comments and discussions about their caste and religion, and not of their valour. Hopefully, it would not dissuade young girls who want to make a career in defence.

On International Women's Da...