Chapter 26
Defence Officer
Have you ever seen her photograph anywhere? She is Lieutenant Commander Wahida Prism, doctor in the Indian Navy. She is one of the few women who has worked on a naval ship. She is the first woman to lead a parade. This is considered to be a very big honour in the armed forces. We specially spoke to Wahida for this book. Let us read what we spoke.
Question– Wahida, tell us something about your childhood and school.
Wahida– I come from a very small village called Thannamandi. This is in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. I did my schooling from a government school. Most of the girls from the village studied in my school. However, few of them ever thought of what they would do after finishing school. I always wanted to become someone special and move forward in life. I was very interested in higher studies and wanted to complete the tenth class. In my area, it was a new thing at that time. My mother and father had to face many problems because of this. We even had to move out of our village. We then went to live with my grandmother in Rajouri. I did my twelth class from there.
Question– So you always thought differently right from the beginning?
Wahida–– Even when I was very young I wanted to do something different. I was very fond of riding a motor-cycle. We are three sisters. My father wanted one of us to become a doctor and one a teacher. He wanted the third daughter to become a lawyer or join the police force. I have become a doctor in the Indian Navy and my sister is in the Jammu Police Force.
Question– How did you become a doctor?
Wahida–– I worked very hard. My friends and family members helped me a lot. I got admission in Jammu Medical College. I studied for five years and did my M.B.B.S.
Question– How did you get into the Defence Forces? Didn’t your family stop you?
Wahida– Oh, no! They felt that a job in the Forces would be the best thing for me. When I was very small, I would see army officers in our village. I wanted to be like them. This was really a very big dream for me! While in school, I attended camps, For the teacher: Children can be informed about all the three forces. For this, help can be taken from children from the defence background climbed mountains and was a ‘Girl Guide’. After I became a doctor, I appeared for an interview to join the Armed Forces. I got selected there and received a training for six months.
Question– Why did you join the Indian Navy? Do you not have to live on the naval ship?
Wahida– Well, I am very fond of travelling. I like to see different places. I wanted to go to far-off places. I was born in the hills and now I am working in sea. I really enjoy it. Very few lady-officers have worked on a ship. I am one of them. Earlier, women were not allowed to go on Naval ships. When an opportunity was given, I myself went forward and gave my name. I even want to go in a submarine. I want to do everything which people think women cannot do. At present women are not allowed to go in submarines, but whenever it is allowed, I will certainly go.
Question– So what happened to your degree of M.B.B.S?
Wahida– I am a doctor, but in Indian Navy a naval doctor does not just give medicine to patients. She is in fact, a medical officer. The ship goes to sea for three-four months at a time. There, it is my responsibility to make sure that everybody on the ship stays fit and healthy. I carry out medical check-ups of all the officers and sailors. I also have to make sure that For the teacher: Let this discussion inspire the children to dream about doing big things, and to work hard towards fulfilling their dreams
Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 4 EVS Defence Officer
