"She's Unstoppable": Indian Navy's All Women 12-Day Car Rally Sets Off From Delhi

Jeep India organises a 12-day all-women car rally with the Indian Navy and the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association. The rally will start from Delhi to Longewala and back to Delhi and cover a distance of 2,300 km over 12 days. The all-women car expedition set off from the National War Memorial on Tuesday to motivate women to join the naval force.

Naval Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar virtually launched the rally. The naval officers and other participants drove out of the India Gate complex, heading towards the Longewala War Memorial in Rajasthan.

Indian Navy All Women Car Rally

The slogan "She’s Unstoppable" and the tagline, "Soar High," are attached to the all-women car rally. The rally, which began at the National War Memorial in Delhi, will travel to the Rajasthan Longewala War Memorial and back to Delhi in a span of 12 days between February 14 and 25. The Defense Ministry said that the rally would travel through Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Longewala, Jaipur, and Udaipur before returning to Delhi.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Indian Navy’s Chief of Personnel, who was present at the event, said, "Today is Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) and this expedition aims to inspire youth, mark the Azad ka Amrit Mahotsav, but most importantly, demonstrate the ‘Nari Shakti.’"

The Indian Navy Association, in collaboration with the Navy Wellness and Welfare Association (NWWA), has collaborated with the motor company Jeep India for this expedition as a "tribute to the brave women of the country and of the Navy," the officials said.

The Indian Navy Vice Admiral, Tripathi, also stated that "all-woman warships will be seen in the Indian Navy in the near future." He added, "But it’ll take some time because we have just opened the Agniveer for women. We’ve also decided that women can join all branches as officers. It takes its own time because of the training, etc., but it has to happen. I can assure you that we will certainly have a woman officer commanding a warship in the coming years, and that will be a red-letter day for the Indian Navy and for the entire nation.

Speaking about the current status of the women Agniveers and a message to young women who aspire to join the Indian Navy, the Vice Admiral said, "We have over 270 women Agniveers at the basic training camp right now. I'd met them, and they were incredibly inspiring. I would urge the youth of the nation to come and join the armed forces."

"You will be enriched with tangible and intangible values, whether you are in or out of uniform later. The never-say-die spirit and a sense of patriotism are ingrained in the minds of soldiers," said Tripathi about the Agnipath scheme.

Asked about the gender-neutral aspect of warships, he said, "As we speak, 28 women officers are serving afloat, and some of these Agniveers who pass out will come on ships. We are preparing our ships for that. All ships are being built to specifications, and they will have provisions for having women officers and sailors in the near future.

During the rally, the president of the NWWA and other members would undertake outreach programmes at schools for special children, old age homes, and orphanages, along with interacting with veterans' families. The women officers will undertake awareness drives about the career opportunities offered by the Indian Navy. They would conduct motivational talks about Agniveers, and other schemes for joining the Navy at identified schools and colleges.

The ministry said that the rally aims to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence, showcase the contributions of naval women officers, motivate women to join the Indian Navy, pay homage at the Longewala War Memorial, interact with naval veterans, and meet Veer Naris on the way.

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