Major Radhika Sen, an Indian lady peacekeeper, has made the country proud by earning the prestigious Military Gender Advocate Award. This award, announced by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, recognizes her outstanding service in the United Nations Mission in Congo. Guterres praised Radhika as “a true role model” for her exceptional contributions.

Who is Major Sen?

She is a resident of Himachal Pradesh, served as the commander of the Indian battalion in the eastern part of the Republic of Congo from March 2023 to April 2024. Born in 1993, she joined the Indian Army eight years ago after completing her graduation in Biotech Engineering. While pursuing her master’s degree at IIT Bombay, Radhika decided to join the Indian Army to serve her country.

In March 2023, she was deployed to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion. Her tenure ended in April 2024.

Recognition from the UN

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated Major Radhika Sen for her service, calling her a “true leader and role model.” He highlighted her important role in engaging with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls, in North Kivu, a region experiencing increasing conflict. Guterres noted that her humility, compassion, and dedication helped win the trust of these communities.

Major Sen’s Reaction

Major Sen expressed her gratitude to the United Nations for recognizing her work. She emphasized the importance of the award, stating, “This award is special to me because it recognizes the hard work of all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of the Republic of Congo and making an outstanding contribution to bringing about positive change in society.” She also highlighted that gender advocacy is everyone’s responsibility and should not be left only to women.

India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping

India has a significant role in UN peacekeeping missions, ranking as the 11th largest contributor of female military peacekeepers. The Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is given each year to a peacekeeper nominated by Force Commanders and Heads of Mission from all peacekeeping operations. In 2019, another Indian, Major Suman Gawani, also received this award.

India has traditionally been one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions. The recognition of Major Radhika Sen’s contributions brings pride to every Indian.