Commanding heights

Women in armed forces are challenging stereotypes, proving their mettle in leadership by using discipline, empathy and determination to excel on both domestic and professional fronts

- SIDDHARTH DEV VERMAN

A senior Army commander has recently sparked a minor earthquake in the well-paved roads of cantonment across India by his remarks on women commanding officers. He has flagged traits which he feels render them ill-prepared for holding such posts hitherto reserved for mostly much moustachioed males.

The trauma which the good general appears to have suffered on having to see women in commanding roles has touched his soul deeply enough for him to vent his views in a letter to his immediate superior. But underlying his attempts to find some plausible cause for their underwhelming performance as leaders is the fact that he seems to be looking at them from the prism of a much harried, sorry, much-married man. Most of the weaknesses he points out are qualities which have helped women command and lead men through the battlefield which marriages often become.

I suspect that most male army officers are averse to the idea of women commanding officers at the workplace because having one in civilian pants at home is tough enough!