Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrith To Lead Navy At Republic Day Parade

Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrith, 29, a naval air operations officer, will lead the naval marching contingent down the renamed Kartavya Path in the Republic Day Parade.

Amrith, a tri-service Andaman Nicobar Command naval air operations officer, will lead the 144-member contingent of young sailors in the Republic Day Parade. The contingent also includes three women and five men undergoing training as "Agniveers." Sub-Lieutenant Valli Meena S, another female officer, will be one of the three platoon commanders.

It had been Amrith’s dream to participate in the Republic Day Parade since she was a young NCC cadet in 2008. On January 26, she will finally accomplish it and that too by leading the march.

The naval tableau has "Nari Shakti" as its central theme. It will highlight the Navy's multifaceted capabilities as well as "Make in India" platforms such as the Scorpene or Kalvari submarines and the Nilgiri class of frigates.

Around 30 women officers are deployed on the front-line warships, with the navy inducting them as aircraft and helicopter pilots and air operations officers.

Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrith

Disha Amrith, on the other hand, has stated unequivocally that she wishes to be known as an "officer," not a "woman officer." She said, "I am on a par with my male counterparts. I have proved that."  She added that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to lead the Naval marching contingent.

Amrith holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science degree from the BMS College of Engineering in Karnataka. "Since 2008, I have nurtured this dream of being part of the Republic Day contingent of the armed forces. My father also wanted to join the armed forces but he could not. I’m proud to be part of the Navy and will continue to serve with full zeal and dedication." Said Amrith.

It is to be noted that Divya Ajith was the first to lead the all-woman contingent at the Republic Day parade in 2015. Although there is still a long way to go before women have equal representation in the armed forces, more women have been included in parades in recent years.

Suggested Reading: Republic Day Parade: How India’s Largest Paramilitary Force Will Represent Nari Shakti