Lt Col Ravinder Jit Randhawa
Lt Col Ravinder Jit Randhawa, commissioned on 5th September 1998. On that day Lt Col Randhawa made history by becoming the First Veer Nari to Join the Indian Army.
Starting from humble background’s her only interaction with the Army was through her husband, Maj SJS Randhawa (Kirti Chakra Posthumous).
On 17th June 1997, Major Sukhwinder Jeet Singh Randhawa sacrificed his life in the line of duty while fighting for the safety of his country and protection of his fellow men in arms. His valour and grit earned him the second highest peace-time gallantry award: Kirti Chakra.
A young wife with a new born, Ravinder (fondly called Romi) had lost all hope, when with just one early morning call after an insurgency she became a widow.
In order to fulfil her late husbands last wish of raising their daughter in the Army, and with the aim of serving this great nation the same way her husband did, Romi approached Dr. Ranjana Malik, Former President AWWA.
Romi wanted to join the Indian Army, however she did not meet few criteria like maximum age, marital status and so on.
With a single minded objective of joining the army, Romi met with Dr. Malik, who soon reached out to her husband, Gen Ved Prakash Malik PVSM, AVSM- Former Chief of Army Staff. Dr. Malik saw Romi’s grit and courage and together with Gen VP Malik they made it possible for those criteria to be waived off.
Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Gen VP Malik and Dr. Ranjana Malik, Romi got the chance to be able to apply for SSB, and got a second chance at life.
With sheer force of will and strength, Romi became the first Veer Nari to join the Indian Army against all odds. While under training she received Major SJS Randhawa’s Kirti Chakra Award and received it in her OTA uniform while inspiring women everywhere.
Lt Col RJ Randhawa created history and paved a path where there was none. Since that day she has raised her daughter all on her own and served the nation with dignity and pride for 24 and half years.
She rides bikes and runs marathons in Ladakh (worlds highest altitude marathon). She scuba dives and ventures on cycling expedition. Everyday of her life, Lt Col Randhawa reminds us that there is nothing you can not achieve if you put your mind to it.
She is the epitome of female empowerment and an inspiration for men, women and her fellow soldiers.
Today she stands tall as Veer Nari and she Superannuate from the Indian Army on 31st March 2023.