Women's Day ‘I am an officer first and then a woman’

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[b]Meet Colonel Dr Alka Goswami, a Vishishth Seva Medal awardee, who has served in the Indian army for 36 years[/b]

What do you do when as a first-time young mother you have a premature baby that weighs just one kilogram and a work schedule that doesn’t take that into consideration? Well, if you are a woman in the Indian Army, you just continue to do the best you can on both fronts. That’s the story of Colonel Dr Alka Goswami – a Vishisht Seva Medal decorated officer who retired after serving in the army as a doctor for 36 years – and a mom of three.

“In 1976, when my eldest daughter was born, I was told that she would not live and if she did, she would be mentally retarded. I had to feed her every two hours and continue on a punishing work schedule that required me to be on duty in a busy Meerut hospital through several nights in a week,” recollects Col. Goswami whose brilliant daughter today stands proof of her mother’s grit. “At that time, the army did not even grant maternity leave. They claimed that you are an officer and not a woman.”

Ever since Col. Goswami can recollect, she had always dreamt of being in the army. A chance bicycle accident and lady doctor in an army hospital, set a seven-year-old girl’s imagination and passion on fire. “When we were about to pass out of medical college, I claimed that I will join the army, everyone laughed. In 1972, out of the four ladies who applied, I was the only one chosen,” says the proud lady who initially joined the forces on the Short Service Commission (for five years).

She met her husband (also a doctor in the army) and had a daughter along the way during her first tenure. Then, she quit and went to play the traditional bahu. This role lasted for exactly three months before she was back into the army. “The army was strict. Whatever you were instructed, you had to follow. There were no excuses, no small kids at home,” she smiles remembering another incident when she had to leave her four-month-old nursing son with neighbours for up to eight hours without a feed. But, Col. Goswami has loved every moment. She speaks about her postings in Darjeeling, Goa, Jammu, Kapurthala, Madras, Guwahati and the memorable Aurangabad, where she was awarded for her special service.

“I had taken over as the first and only woman Commanding Officer till date at the Military Hospital, Aurangabad. It was the only one in all eight districts of Marathwada and had to reach out to 60,000 ex-servicemen and separated families.” The good doctor spruced up the dilapidated hospital big time and held medical camps across the eight districts reaching out to people in far-flung areas.

Has being a woman been a tough beginning? “In 1973, after my internship, my first posting in Faizabad was just me with 150 male officers. I cried my heart out and even refused to go eat in the mess,” laughs the brave lady, “They felt bad and gave me an eleven-bedroom house within the hospital campus. I was so freaked out that I paid an ayah 50 paisa per night to simply come and sleep in my room.”

Soon after she learnt the ways of the army and was often the only lady officer in various units. “I had nothing to fear.” But, Col. Goswani accepts, “At every step, you have to fight with men. I was constantly questioned and I had to be answerable for every tiny decision. It merely taught me a higher sense of responsibility.” Of course, there were the occasional snubs as well. “An officer once demanded, ‘Why aren’t you submissive like women?’ I replied that when in uniform, I am an officer too and his equal.”

In spite of the hard life in the army, Col. Goswami is all smiles and has only positives to say about the army life. “It is a good life. It teaches you self-discipline as well as man-management. Plus, if you are fond of travelling, like my husband and me, the army gives you opportunities to sight-see throughout India. “We made a deal with our kids: We will show you all of India, the foreign countries you have to show us,” she smiles, adding that the deal is actually being worked out by her kids.

“My husband and I left our homes with one black trunk. The rest we have done everything on our own, with no support from either families. The army taught us a lot,” states a smiling Col. Goswami.

[skchinnari]

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