Swati Mahadik, wife of late Col. Santosh Mahadik, the brave commando from 21 Para special Forces, who laid down his life while fighting terrorists in Kupwara, is all set to join the Indian Army as an officer.
She had pledged at her husband’s funeral that she would join the Indian Army to carry forward her husband’s legacy. The only thing that stood between her and the olive uniform, was her age.
She is 32.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar granted her a special age exemption on the recommendation of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh.
Swati has cleared the SSB test and will train at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.
Mother to a young son and daughter, Swati Mahadik had to enrol her two children in boarding schools so she could focus on preparing for the SSB.
It was not an easy journey for her. She was competing to get into the Indian Army, against other candidates at least a decade younger.
I cannot even imagine how difficult the journey must have been for her, to deal with the grief and the loss and to emerge out of it stronger. The late Col. Mahadik would have been so proud of her!
Swati Mahadik is the true representative of the modern Indian woman.
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