‘Not here to stay under the veil or the four walls of the house, we’re here for a larger goal’. Naveena Shekhawat from Rajasthan clearly defines the above statement. The Rajput girl hails from Khoda village and is Pali district’s first Major in the Indian Army. What a delight would it have been in becoming the first in the district added to it being a woman, in a state where girls are succumbed to child marriage.
Shekhawat pursued her higher studies from KN College, Jodhpur and then further completed her post-graduation in defense services. Before being promoted to the ranks of Major she served as Captain in the armed forces and worked in the naxal prone zones of Manipur.
She keenly took part and spearheaded many of the Army’s drive in bringing Naxals into the mainstream. Before reaching the heights in the Army, Shekhawat had to undergo rigorous training at Officers’ Training Academy from 2013 onwards for a stretch of 2 yrs. Currently she is posted at difficult terrains of Leh-Ladakh and is safeguarding the borders of our country and isn’t that what mothers and sisters do for their kith and kin guarding and protecting from all the hurdles and obstacles on the way.
Talking about her accolades and achievement it will certainly blow one’s mind this ‘छोरी’ from Rajasthan doesn’t just have a single feather in her cap but adorns many, Shekhawat is a National-level shooter too and also was under the Top 10 shooters in the National Army Event.
A national level NCC cadet, Shekhawat have always secured A grade in the competitions and events organised by the Army. Her husband Mr. Mithlesh Singh happens to be posted at SMS Jaipur and he too is a national level athlete, this reminds me of Anushka Sharma when confronted by Salman Khan for marriage in the movie Sultan to which she responds, “एक एथलिट का दूसरे एथलिट से ही शादी हो सके।” (that an athlete can only be married to another athlete).
Surely one of the highs in her life would be taking part in the parade of Republic Day 2015 when she walked the roads of Rajpath in front of Prime Minister Modi and then American President Barack Obama.
Naveena says that girls from villages are no less to anyone, they also have the right to see dreams and live those dreams. The only place where they lack is opportunity and most importantly proper guidance. No dream is too big to be achieved, one only needs that tenacity, zeal, hard work, commitment and dedication to get through.
Shekhawat loves the traditional attire, she makes sure that she is in the Rajputi attire when she is back at home and believes in social rites and traditions. She says, “on border army uniform and in home my traditional outfit.”
One can clearly say that knowingly or unknowingly Naveena Shekhawat is knitting inspirational story for not just the girls of Khoda village of Pali district or Rajasthan but for all the girls out there who are afraid to come out of the social chains.
Let us hope that Miss Naveena Shekhawat’s story inspires millions of girls sitting at home waiting for some miracle to happen.