Introduction

Since time immemorial, home is field for woman and man is bread winner. The men folk are required not only to defend land and property but also women and children. Women have been traditionally considered as property and had to be protected. Consequently, there was no question of women going to battle field. Women were traditionally confined to homes. 

Women express valor more in suicide (sati or johar) than combat  

Rajasthan or Rajputana is known for valor. But women are known and admired more for 'sati'  and 'johar'.  'Sati' is the practice of 'being burnt on funeral pyre with corpse of husband'.  'Johar'  was the practice of  mass suicide by women folk in the likely event of enemy capturing them alive and robbing of them of their 'honor'  which virtually means rape. In Indian tradition, rape is worst.  A woman raped by enemy is unchaste and a social outcast whereas one who dies through act of 'sati' or 'johar'  is worshipped. There are many 'sati' temples yet in Rajasthan.     

Change in social value- greater role for women 

There has been a change in social values. Consequently, women play a greater role in politics, social field, administrative jobs and commerce. Women are also in armed forces. But they are more acceptable in support services like medicine, nursing, supply, back office etc. There is no issue presently regarding deployment of women in armed forces. They are prominently employed in medical corps and nursing services. There was a corps called women auxiliary Force (WACI) in British Indian Army.  This was as the name implies for auxiliary service. 

Historic background 

The issue of deployment of women in combat has come in limelight consequent on the United states of America deciding to allow women in combat position. This is still in decision making stage and it will take some more time to actually employ women in combat role. There are examples of women in combat role in India and abroad. However, mostly the women warriors ere either queens or women disguised as males. Joan of Arc and Rani of Jhansi are some well known names. It is notable that there was a women battalion in Indian National army (Azad Hind Fauza) commanded by Netaji Subhash Chandta Bose. Captain Laxmi Sehgal who recently died at Kanpur was in this battalion.

There was deployment of women in some European armies during first and second world war. But they were generally employed in support services. The Russians employed women in a big way in First and Second world wars. But later, they also discarded this practice. After 1945, all combat roles for women came to an end. So women's role was only in non combatant position. Even when women are employed in combat units, their role is mainly to assist the male counterparts and they are not supposed to come in close proximity to the enemy.  Women are more acceptable as fighter pilots in Air Force as they do not come in direct and close proximity to enemy. The warfare is mainly technical and physical valor is not so significant. The land forces come in close proximity to enemy. The Air force is seen more as providing aerial cover to the fighting forces on land. The main fighting force is infantry.

Difficulties in deploying women in combat role 

There are several difficulties in employing women in armed forces. One is providing separate toilet and bath facilities to women. Secondly, the mindset of the fighting forces does not allow command by women. The male soldiers are not mentally prepared to accept women as comrades in arms in battle field. The 'espirit de corps' is disrupted. Indian army is organized on martial race concept. We have Rajput, Sikh, Punjab, Gorkha , Dogra, Mahar regiments etc. based on this concept.  It is said that the soldiers organized this way have a better feeling of common brotherhood and racial pride that ultimately helps in military success. There is no record of women fighters either in ancient mythological literature or recent wars. Rani Laxmi Bai was a woman warrior but she is described as 'mardani' (male like) in a poem by subhadra Kumari Chauhan. she writes- KHOOB LADI MARDANI VOH TO JHANSI VALI RANI THI. (Heroically fought the male like- she was Jhansi vali rani)  One big obstacle is excessive stress on female chastity. First, the women soldiers may face sexual offence from own fellow soldiers. Secondly, the women soldiers could be made captive by enemy. There is every risk of maltreatment and sexual abuse by the enemy forces. This is unacceptable in Indian cultural backdrop. First difficulty will arise in women's family. There will be hardly anyone who would accept even the thought of sending his daughter or sister to battle front. Nobody will believe that chastity of the woman soldier can remain intact. Such chastity issue has been experienced in west also. A woman major of American Army (now a Brigadier General) Rhonda Comum was a prisoner of war in Iraq. She was asked not to mention that she was molested by enemy. But she subsequently disclosed this and said that "A lot of people make a big deal about being molested."  There is also issue of physical fitness. Although some women have proved their physical fitness and strength in Air force, space and sports, in general, women are not of requiste medical standard. It is also said that women need more leave owing to pregnance conditions.  

Let eligible women join army in combatant role 

The difficulty about physical fitness is over stressed. Nobody will say that women of less than requisite physical standard be recruited in the army. There is difference in physical attributes of male soldiers of different also   The army has hence prescribed standards for each race or caste different. Thus the height for Gorkha soldiers'  is prescribed lower than Sikh.  Similarly, the physical standards can be appropriately prescribed for women.  As regards maternity leave by women soldiers, this is common to all women. Mo need to say that all women soldiers will not be pregnant during war and hence this should not be an obstacle to women's deployment in armed forces. There may also be advantages of employing women soldiers during search operations in civil territory.  

Women already serve well in state police and home guard duties. They are successful pilots and even gone in spaceships. There is no reason why they be not given an opportunity to serve in armed forces as combatants.  The people and women well know the possibilities of injury,,captivity, sexual abuse, rape etc.  It is certain that most people will not send their women to army to fight ion combat position. But there is no reason why the capable women who are willing to join army as combatant despite such difficulties not be given opportunity. As regards emotional issues of male soldiers, there is a way out.  There may be separate company or other field units exclusively for women. There should be no difficulty in providing accommodation and toilet facilities to such units. Where there is will there is a way. The deployme4nt of women in army will also have a salutary affect on diluting the over emphasis on female chastity.  There is definite possibility of women soldier getting sexually assaulted by enemy during captivity. The heroism and valor of these women will also change mindset of the whole society. When the women soldiers captivated, injured and sexually assaulted are given due honor, the concept of equation of chastity to 'honor' will vanish.