India, July 6 -- eteran, Corporate Leader, Advocate for Women in Uniform and Beyond
When my parents were putting my "Sub Lieutenant Stripes on my shoulder during my Passing Out Parade (POP) from Indian Naval Academy in 2010 and I got President's Commission from that day and till now with that weight of responsibility on my shoulders, I wasn't just representing the Armed Forces-I was carrying the hopes of every girl who's ever been told she's "not meant" for this path.
Growing up, like many girls in this country, I was no stranger to the word "can't."
"You can't join the military, it's too tough for girls."
"You can't think like that-it's not ladylike."
"You can't dream of both a career and a family-choose one."
These words were not ju...