Lt Col Manmohinder Kaur motivates girls to join armed forces

A lecture was organised at The Punjab Public School on October 9, 2021. Lt Col Manmohinder Kaur and an Old Nabhaite spoke on women’s participation in the armed forces. She explained the entire process of becoming an officer right from the induction stage to being commissioned into the armed forces with special emphasis on Officers Training Academies. She listed out attitude, strength, bonhomie, camaraderie, team spirit, mental flexibility and adaptability as the key qualities that go into the making of an officer. The armed forces are gender neutral, said she. Your professional competence is more important than your gender. She said army offers you respect, versatility and adventure. It teaches you crisis management, level-headedness and calmness despite all odds. It teaches you to live life to the fullest. The biggest thing army teaches you is to take each day as it comes. It teaches you to take pride in your job and prioritize service before your self.

Dwelling further on the role of an officer, Lot Col Manmohinder Kaur said it is important to put your heart and soul into what you do. You are expected to set your benchmarks and never lower them, said she. It is equally important to be humble and respectful to each other. An officer is supposed never to misuse his/her power and rank. She said an officer should never hesitate to ask for help and be emotionally independent but believe in inter-dependence. He or she should accept failure with grace and make corrections. He/She should take responsibility for his/her actions. He or she should lead by example. An officer should know he/she is being watched. A woman officer should never let her gender be an escape. Once you wear uniform, you are an officer, said she. Women are emotionally stronger. They should never lose their femininity because it is their strength. They should not hesitate to show their softer side; that is their uniqueness. It helps them to understand their subordinates better.

Headmaster Mr Ajay Singh thanked Lt Col Manmohinder Kaur profusely for taking some time out to be amongst girls and gave her a token of deeply felt respect and gratitude. Deputy Headmaster Dr Gurvinder Kaur also graced the occasion with her benign presence.