Years ago, when the battlefield silenced the voices of their husbands, as they laid down their lives defending the country, it would have been easy, even expected, for these war widows to retreat into life-long mourning, to be consumed by the weight of sorrow. But breaking the odds, these veer naaris chose another path, not only rebuilding themselves from scratch but also becoming an example for society too.
Recently, a group of veer naaris, under the aegis of Army Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) led by the association’s President Sunita Dwivedi, met the President of India Draupadi Murmu. The visit was not just a courtesy call but with purpose to exchange a heartfelt stories of the women, whose lives turned upside down by the cruel toll of conflict yet refused to be broken by grief.
Among them was Lt Col Ravinder Jit Randhawa (retd.), who wasn’t just a grieving widow, but the trailblazer who went on to become first Veer Naari to join the Indian Army. Her husband, Major Sukhwinder Jeet Singh Randhawa, was martyred in a counter-insurgency operation in Shopian, Kashmir, in June 1997. The officer was awarded Kirti Chakra, posthumously.
“After my husband laid down his life during the counter-insurgency operation in Shopian, Kashmir, in June 1997, life came to a standstill for me. I had a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and had no clue about what to do next. However, the words of my husband that our child should grow up in an army setup kept on echoing in my ears,” she said.
Determined to honour his wish, she approached the then AWWA President, Dr. Ranjana Malik, with an unusual request, to join the Indian Army herself. At the time, the age limit for women officers made her ineligible. However, what unfolded was a standout example of what support, perseverance, and empathy can achieve. Dr. Ranjana took her appeal directly to the then Army Chief, General Ved Prakash Malik, who championed her cause and took it up with the Ministry of Defence.
With a special waiver granted by the Ministry of Defence, Randhawa broke the ceiling and became the first Veer Naari to wear the olive-green uniform, not just for herself, but as a symbol of what was possible for countless others like her.
“There is nothing greater than the role AWWA played in transforming not just my life, but also that of my daughter’s after my husband’s martyrdom,” she said, her voice steady with conviction.
Hailing from a small village, Jaya Prabha Mahato got married to Lance Naik Rajkumar Mahato when she was in Class 10. However, fate brought in the cruel twist when Mahato achieved martyrdom during a counter-insurgency operation carried out in the Ganderbal district of J&K in 2004.
Jaya, who was appearing for her M. Sc final year examination, was completely shattered, unsure of her future. “I was completely shattered. I didn’t know where life was heading,” she said. Of the many condolence letters she received, one stood out, a heartfelt note from the AWWA, a letter that turned her life around. “They not only helped me understand and manage the financial assistance I received after my husband’s martyrdom but also ensured I found stability, by helping me get a teaching job at the Army Public School and in booking a flat.”
In her village, she was met with harsh judgment. “People mocked me for wearing colourful clothes or smiling,” she says. It was a time when her mental strength was tested each day, AWWA stepped in again. A team was sent to speak directly with the village sarpanch. “The officer firmly told them that the entire Indian Army stood with me. That one act silenced every whisper, every taunt. The dignity and support AWWA gave me at that time was something I can never forget.”
Currently, Jaya serves at a government School in Ranchi as a TGT. She was instrumental in creating e-content for the entire state of Jharkhand during COVID.