RETREAT FROM TRADITION

ATTARI BORDER (AMRITSAR): Thousands gathered in the jam-packed visitors’ gallery watch eagerly as Sagarika and Manisha Nichale of Border Security Force (BSF) march aggressively toward the border gates to kick off the retreat ceremony, traditionally dominated by men.

Their arms swinging higher and higher their feet stomping the ground, they cut quite a dash as they match the foot-stomping Pakistani Rangers and the crowd chants ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

The ceremony over, the girls are mobbed by selfie seekers. These two women constables are not just trained for this ceremonious march but for combat duties as well. Be it border patrolling or keeping an eye on the Pakistanis from the border outpost tower, they do it all.

Hailing from a small village in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Sagarika (23) is proud of her uniform. Daughter of a lab assistant, Sagarika is the first in her family to join the forces.

“I was inspired by the uniform right from my childhood, and I dreamt of joining the forces some day. BSF opened the gates for women in 2008, and I joined it in 2014. It’s changed my life forever.”

Sagarika is proud of the fact that women are excelling in every field. “I feel great that I am serving the nation and it’s very motivating when thousands of people applaud us during the retreat ceremony.”

Manisha Nichale, 23, from Karnataka is now an inspiration for her three younger siblings.

The 23-year daughter of a tailor, she joined the BSF in 2013 is now an inspiration for her three younger siblings. Manisha says, “I would just like to tell all women that nothing is impossible and they should make a mark in a field of their choice.”