Republic Day Parade: Woman officer to lead army contingent for the first time

New Delhi: For the first time, a woman officer will be leading an army contingent during the Republic Day parade this year. The woman officer is Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi who will be leading an army contingent of 144 members.

The youth officer from Hyderabad who joined the army two-and-a-half-years back is extremely happy on being given the chance to lead an army contingent in the parade. “My dream of saluting the President of India who is the supreme commander of the armed forces while leading a contingent has become fruitful. I am happy in regad to the ocean of people who will come to visit this. Looking at me, many girls can feel happy,” said the Lieutenant. “No award is equivalent to this honour and responsibility placed on me. This is the highest award of my lifetime,” she says expressing her happiness.

Lt Kasturi is currently indulged in practicing for the parade march along with her army contingent early in the morning at 5:30 am in the body-numbing cold. 9 years ago she had marched in the parade in a NCC team.