INSV Tarini, the Indian Navy’s flagship sailing vessel, recently reached Fremantle, Australia after a 39-day voyage that covered nearly 5,000 nautical miles.
That was significant as it was the first international stop during the ship’s mission to circumnavigate the world.
INSV Tarini’s journey is important as part of India’s Sagar Parikrama series, a diplomatic initiative demonstrating India’s maritime reach.
But beyond the Navy’s global engagement, this mission stands out as a story of progress for women in India’s armed forces.
Tarini has an all-women crew, led by two seasoned officers: Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa Alagirisamy.
This eight-month journey, which will take the crew through some of the world’s most challenging waters, is definitely set to show the skill, dedication, and resilience of women seafarers. After all, they will navigate changing winds, strong currents, and vast distances.
Their mission represents more than a circumnavigation; it’s a powerful symbol of the Navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity and women empowerment.
But, “women empowerment” is a big buzzword everyone seems to want to capitalise on. Standalone efforts are quite open to be dismissed as “tokenistic”.
For the Indian Navy, however, that is not the case. While these women officers are at sea, completing a mission that will inspire girls and women for years to come, the Indian Navy itself is taking baby steps to ensure that gender inclusion is institutionalised.
Here are three ways the Navy is leading the charge:
1. Expanding roles
The Indian Navy has been gradually opening up various roles and command positions to women.
There have been some key ‘firsts’ in this regard. In December, Commander Prerna Deosthalee became the first woman to be appointed to command a naval warship (INS Trinkat).
In June this year, Sub Lieutenant Anamika B Rajeev became the Navy’s first woman helicopter pilot.
These moves in the Indian Navy have been hailed as a much-needed show that armed forces value leadership and technical expertise above orthodox restrictions based on gender.
2. Gender-neutral language
Breaking role-related barriers is only one aspect of gender inclusivity. The exclusionary culture, unfortunately, is present in small, everyday things, too.
Identifying and changing practices that subconsciously enforce exclusionary practices has led to the adoption of gender-neutral language in official documents and everyday use in the Navy.
The force is switching from words like “servicemen” to “service personnel” and “mankind” to “humanity”, as reported by ThePrint.
3. Implementing practical adjustments for women at sea
The Navy has also made practical adjustments to better accommodate women, particularly on longer deployments.
Gender-specific uniforms, access to dedicated mentorship programs, and support networks like the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) are designed to address unique needs and create a balanced environment.
Mentorship programs and family-friendly policies have been recently instituted, too.
These initiatives have been finally put in place so that women at sea, on submarines, or in combat roles are not only equipped to perform but are supported in maintaining their well-being.
INSV Tarini’s journey points to how far the Navy has come— and how much it still aims to achieve.
As the crew navigates their next route through the Southern Ocean’s notoriously rough seas, they carry a message of resilience and inclusion that the Navy hopes will inspire future generations.
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