1 1 2 2 3 ForewordForeword Every person has to prove themselves in a new job. But, there is a new level of proving oneself as the first generation of women in jobs that have been exclusively for men over the last hundred years. And, nothing can be harder than proving yourself as a woman soldier in India’s oldest paramilitary force, the Assam Rifles, a male bastion for 181 years of its 183 years of existence. A source of great pride to the Assam Rifles are our women combatants, also known as mahila soldiers. And, an even greater source of pride is the way the Force has adapted to women living, working and fighting successfully alongside their male counterparts. At the Assam Rifles’ Training Centre and School in Sukhovi, Nagaland, instructors put the female recruits through grueling paces. On undergoing the rigorous training at this Institute of Excellence, our mahila soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts having been integrated into the fighting force as combatants on equal terms with the men. Besides the training that helps facilitate integration into combat units, the organisation is getting itself attuned to the challenges that are faced by women soldiers and special attention is given to address these challenges. The greatest challenge that is imposed on our female soldiers is motherhood. As in most places, women still shoulder the bulk of childcare responsibilities, and military life is no different. Often, the woman soldier does not have the same experience of having someone at home to support her career as does the male soldier. And, this is something that Assam Rifles is looking at very closely. Though the organisation provides for crèche/day care facilities in places where families of soldiers are permitted to stay, under consideration is also the requirement for plentiful round-the-clock child care directed to the needs of children of mahila soldiers and to that of the of the single parent – male or female. This would go a long way in helping such military parents achieve a balance between family and work, while enabling them to give of their best to the organisation. Soldiers take pride in what they do. And our women soldiers take as much pride as the men in what is expected and demanded of them – to be fit and ready to fight and protect what’s important. As can be seen, they wear their uniform with pride, a pride that they share with other soldiers who serve, whether they are women or men. This issue of Siroi is dedicated to our mahila soldiers – some of whom are pictured on the cover, on their day off – who have overcome great odds to serve as combatants in this historic force. Deeply appreciated, too, are their families who support them so that they can continue to serve and to do the tremendous job that they do. We wish them strength and safe times. While on the contribution of families, I would like to draw your attention to the Certificate of Appreciation, a copy of which is reproduced here on the left. Established this year, the Certificate of Appreciation Award is to be presented to ARWWA members who have given selflessly of their time and skills to help better the ARWWA community as well as to those members who made noteworthy contributions bringing positive attention to the Assam Rifles. Congratulations to 3 4 the first recipients of the award – 32 of you – and many thanks for your invaluable service. I would also like to thank you, all of you of this remarkable organisation, for the wonderful tenure. I will cherish my time here and the memories made – they will remain forever in my heart. And, as always, my wish for each one of you of our Assam Rifles’ family – stay happy, stay strong, stay blessed. Daphne Chauhan President Assam Rifles’ Wives’ Welfare Association (ARWWA) 5 ContentsContents • Skill Development by Team 28 5 • The Secret of Happiness 8 • Educating the Underpriviledged Children 9 • Women Achievers of the North East 11 • Big Dreams – The First Step Towards Success 13 • Splashes of Joy! 14 • Life – A Game 14 • The Student-Teacher Relationship 15 • The Bihu festival of Assam 16 • TREES – Our Life! 16 • The Empowerment of Women 17 • PERSONALITY AND HOW TO DEVELOP IT 18 • The Best Bear Advice 18 • Educational Initiatives by Assam Rifles’ Public School, Naginimora 19 • Life! 20 • CHILD ABUSE via the Story of Komal 20 • Women’s Safety 21 • The Apple Tree 21 • The Mobile Phone 22 • Personality- Your Original Personal Property 23 • My Private Moments with Rain 23 • MY COUNTRY, Right or Wrong? 24 • DISCIPLINE IN LIFE 24 • Children & Digital India 25 • ARPS – OUR PRIDE 26 • Friends of the Hill People 26 • THE ASSAM RIFLES - ITS ORIGINS AND GROWTH 27 • My Return 28 • My Thoughts PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE 28 6 ContentsContents • FREEDOM FRAGRANCE 28 • Why the Lotus is considered special 29 • THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION 29 • A Froggy Fable 30 • Cloudy Thoughts 30 • The Nagas - Their Life and Culture 31 • Maths Unknown 32 • THOUGHTS TO PONDER 33 • THE MEANING OF LIFE – through different eyes 33 • Do You Know? 34 • BELIEVE IT OR NOT! 34 • My Secret 35 • Our Dear Teacher 35 • RIDDLE-ME-REE 36 • QUIZ TIME 36 • Dear Mom 37 • School Rules! 37 • My Article 38 • My Dream Destination 38 • LIFE – An Echo! 39 • Hygiene and Sanitation 39 • How to Keep Mosquitoes Away The Natural Way 40 • HINDI POEMS & ARTICLE SECTION 41 • Pidilite Mega Workshop for families of Assam Rifles 87 • OORJA UNDER 19 TALENT HUNT FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2017 89 • ASSAM RIFLES’ MEGHALAYA TALENT HUNT SHOW 2017 91 • THE 26TH SENIOR NATIONAL WUSHU CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 93 • FELICITATION OF VEER NARIS BY HON’BLE HOME MINISTER 95 • ASSAM RIFLES’ SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL UNITY & HERITAGE 97 MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITION 7 Skill Development by Team 28 28 Assam Rifles: Making a Real Difference “Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open” By Sudeshna Dhar W/o Col Litton Dhar SM Co-28 Assam Rifles The world had shattered for Nanda Kumari who lost her husband, a soldier of 28 Assam Rifles due to an illness. Her three small children are too young to be aware as to why their father could not get up from that pyre. With tears rolling down her face, Nanda Devi made a vow to herself and silently to her children that she would not give up and would be there to look after them as well as their father would have if he had survived. Difficult as it was, she put her misery behind her and started working on how she could become a provider for her children. It was then that she saw a glimmer of hope amongst the dark clouds in the form of a job at the Unit Skill Development Centre. Nanda Devi had studied till just Class 5 and could barely read and write. However, she mustered everything within her to get out there and to get employed. She was a Nepali and knitting and weaving were part of everyday activities of the home she came from. She knew that she could contribute in this area of fabric making and approached the president of ARWWA, expressing her desire to work in the Centre where she could hone and impart her skills. Skill development projects have always been an integral part of SHOORVEER, the projects focusing on women empowerment by training members to become small scale entrepreneurs. The projects have grown and are now being incorporated on a larger scale so as to make families financially independent. To undertake the project on a larger scale, a study was carried out regarding skill programmes employing the local women of the Wokha district. It was found that the loin looms used by local women for traditional shawl weaving would be beneficial as the financial investment was minimal and thus earnings would come in quicker. It was also learnt that products woven by local women were taken by middle men and sold at double the price paid to the women. This practice preyed on the simplicity of the women hailing from backward villages and their ignorance of the actual cost of handicrafts woven by them. It also showed that they had lacked the approach to open markets in nearby cities. On the path of “If you can dream it, you can do it” and upon seeing the middle men profit dishonestly from the hard work of these women who toiled relentlessly day and night to run their homes and educate their children, our unit, 28 Assam Rifles, took up the initiative to set up a Weaving Centre to help the local women as well as their own families to learn a skill already practiced by their earlier generations as well as to earn a living through the same. The idea was also to develop cost effective skills that at some point of time, the local women could continue on their own and the skill imbibed would not die down for want of finance or external support. The loin loom weaving skill requires looms 7 8 CHAPTER PG NO CHAPTER 8 9 that can be easily made with wood available locally in every village of Nagaland. Similarly, the wool for weaving is also inexpensive and readily available. Implementation of the Project The real challenge was to convert the concept of women empowerment into a workable reality.