While it was the Indian Air Force that recognised and duly appreciated the potential of the fairer sex, the Indian Army soon followed suit by recruiting girls into technical, albeit non-combat, corps. Nonetheless, it is extremely intriguing to find highly trained computer whizzkids so passionate about joining the Army. Punam Mohandas interviewed Captain Sushmita Mehrotra of the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who is one of the 20 women recruits in the EME. Mehrotra's husband holds equal rank in the same corps. Excerpts:

Captain, what are your technical qualifications?

I have done my Master's in Computer Application and M Tech in Computer Science.

When you could have been with any big multinational with thosequalifications, what induced you to join the Indian Army?

There are pros and cons to every profession, but it is the well-organised, disciplined behaviour here that appealed to me. It is a healthy working environment. Outside, it is a do-or-die situation--very stressful.

How did your family react to your career choice?

I have an older brother and a younger sister. While education is of the utmost importance in my family, no one has ever been in the Services. In fact, I am the first officer from my hometown (Guna, near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh), and, to boot, a lady! I was also the only girl in my batch during my M Tech at Indore. It makes me and my family feel happy and proud. My husband, too, is the only one of his family in the Armed Forces. To date, my in-laws have never discouraged me from continuing in my career.

Do you face sexual discrimination in the workplace?

Well, I don't take advantage of the fact that I am a woman, but I must admit that male officers are treateddifferently, and lady officers more delicately. However, I must point out that so far I have only served in Vadodara and Delhi. This being a unit (MCEME in Hyderabad), things will be different and I will have my fair share to do. Also, at this stage of my career, I don't know anything about tactics, so I myself have no hesitation in giving ground to male colleagues.

With technology moving at such a rapid force, don't you feel you are losing out on opportunities in your chosen field?

I agree technology is moving fast, but since my key work area is computers, even here in the EME, I am given the freedom to pursue it. I feel the Army is an all-rounder career. Outside, I would have no doubt done things related to my profession, but here, we are taught about diverse areas such as weapon technology, how to use small arms, physical training, man management, etc.

You are a married lady, and also in the family way now. Does this spell kaput to your olive-tinted dreams?

Well, it will be differentand difficult, but one has to take it in one's stride. As you know, women officers initially join on as short service (a period of five years with the option of signing on for another five) officers. I have already done four years, and by the time the baby comes, I will be on the way to completing my initial tenure. I will of course hate to hang up my uniform, but I have to be practical as a woman and as a mother, too. As yet, my husband and I are both undecided about the future.

Fortunately, the EME is usually considerate in posting husband-wife teams together.

Lastly, Captain, would you advocate the Army as a career choice for other young girls?

I don't blindly advocate this as a career. As I said, there are pros and cons in every profession. However, this is a commitment job--at no stage can you turn around and say ``I can't''! Personally speaking, the Army has provided me with exposure in other (work) areas, and given me a lot of confidence in myself.

On the heels of that, and respondingto the cry of ``Foul!'' from female recruits who feel they should be given a chance to prove themselves in physical prowess and mental alertness in combat areas alongside their male counterparts, the College of Mechanical Engineering in Pune is providing combat training to women as well. A batch of young women aged 22-24 years has recently been absorbed into the Corps of Engineers, and will soon be seen in active field units, Hallelujah to Woman Power!