PUNE: The primary batch of 17 ladies Nationwide Defence Academy (NDA) cadets handed out Friday, scripting a brand new chapter within the annals of the Indian Armed Forces.In contrast to earlier parades throughout their three years on the academy, once they had a separate contingent, the 17 marched with male cadets on the Pune academy’s Arun Khetarpal Parade Grounds, indistinguishable from their army crew haircut and assured stride.The passing-out parade (PoP) marked a end result of the arduous work, willpower, motivation and excessive requirements of bodily health. The ladies, a part of a complete of 336 cadets who handed out, celebrated later with a “push-up” competitors.Former Military chief and Mizoram governor V Ok Singh, who reviewed the parade, described it as a singular second in NDA’s historical past. “These younger ladies are the inimitable image of nari shakti, embodying not simply ladies’s growth however women-led growth. I envision a future not removed from now when one among these ladies rises to the very best echelon of the service they go to. The second exhibits the individuality of the NDA as we couldn’t distinguish female and male cadets through the parade,” mentioned Singh, who handed out of NDA in 1969.Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi, who commanded the parade, echoed the views. “The ladies cadets carried out nicely. They outshone male cadets in lots of points,” Negi mentioned.The hours-long rehearsals for the parade in scorching warmth and rain culminated with spectacular outcomes, mentioned Ishita Singh, one of many ladies cadets. “PoP is likely one of the most necessary occasions in army life. I all the time needed to have a good time this event in entrance of my mother and father and expensive ones. Right this moment, I may fulfil my want,” Ishita instructed TOI.In line with NDA commandant Gurcharan Singh, when women first got here to the academy, they had been staying individually. “Right this moment, they’re built-in utterly with squadrons and battalions. They’re working, taking part in and coaching collectively. Each exercise is gender-neutral,” Gurcharan mentioned.The mother and father couldn’t be extra delighted. “My daughter will not be solely mine now. She is the daughter of the nation. She is our solely daughter. When she determined to hitch NDA, we supported her. She was impressed by her grandfather, who had served within the Military,” mentioned Ashok Mehalan, father of cadet Sheetal Mehalan and businessman from Rohtak in Haryana.In line with C Sangwan, father of cadet Ishita, his daughter has given him “a brand new identification”. “Once we obtained to find out about entry for ladies in NDA, we requested her to submit her kind 20 days earlier than the examination. She cleared it. Right this moment, she proved her mettle and made us very proud,” mentioned Sangwan, who hails from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.Ajit Duhan, father of Ritul Duhan, the primary Battalion Cadet Captain of the ladies’s batch, fell “in need of phrases to reward her achievement”. “Her persona has modified utterly – a complete transformation,” Ajit mentioned.