when would we learn?

The tragic death of Lieutenant Susmita Chakraborthy is the fourth since April 30.
Eight months into the army, she was in charge of a transport company of the Army Supply Corps’5071 battalion, posted at Udhampur.
She was unhappy with the job profile and its requirements and as her mother Sadhna Chakraborthy said ‘disillusioned with her present job’.
Though the 25 year old had tried to kill herself twice, Col. Vijay Pande, a psychiatrist in the Udhampur Command Hospital had put it as mild anxiety and depression.
She even had had her share of counseling but the behavioral irregularities had continued.
The penalty of breaking a bond was the financial stigma that forced her to continue in the forces in spite of being mentally distanced. And why not!
“She hated the girlish assignments that were given to her”, Mr. P.B Chakraborthy, her father rued. Organizing late night parties, arranging transport, welcoming guests over bouquets were expected of her! Would any ambitious self-esteemed officer bear this ignominy?
A few weeks ago she had brought sexual harassment charges against her superiors which is just a piece of information immaterial after her death. Retribution in the Indian system is a cynical process of long winding procedures and hearings that are ‘lost in translation’!
Already the defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee says,” We want more and more lady officers to join the armed forces. Those who have joined are doing well. There are problems but they can be tackled.”
The insensitive hollow words are an insult as recursive problems tarnish the image of the army. Major G. Shobha Rani had hanged herself on May 29 and still the panacea eludes!
Again the ‘astronomically’ high percentage of women in the Indian Armed Forces is appalling! 3%, 1.7% and 2.6% in the Air Force, the Navy and the Army respectively hurts the gender issues already tickling the army.
Some certain jobs are not assigned to women even with the right credentials and capabilities. Flying combat aircrafts and touching down on an aircraft carrier are just a few ‘men only’ domains. Post June 17th, after the tragic suicide of Susmita, the air force has pulled out lady pilots from the frontline sensitive zones in Kashmir.
Nothing official about it but this ridiculous move shows the immature standards in the ranks above.
Then the vice-chief was quoted in a newspaper as having said that the army could do without the services of lady officers. Two days later Mr. Pattabhiraman seemed to have forgotten his statement, deeming it as ill advertised press!
But the ‘long hand’ of Indian politics forced an apology -courtesy Sonia Gandhi.
Is this all that we are capable of after the death of an army officer? Gender discriminations, bias and distrust have tarnished the social fabric and even the positions of prestige, power and pride have been disrespected.
Are we still in the MCP mode of living where equality of sexes is just a far cry or a hypothesis we respectfully ignore and conveniently apply!
A mere bond of service pressed the lady to carry on till she fired the bullet. The lowly tasks, the corruption in the ranks and insults would not be addressed instead it’s again got the political angle as Sushma Swaraj demanded suspension of the army vice-chief. She would even visit the grieved family at Bhopal!
Are these the need of the hour? Mere political mileage and fragrance, stealing media flashes; as even the army shows the psychological angle to wash hands off!
A gold medalist in Chemistry, she leaves behind much more than a shattered family! She leaves behind the army greens with lots of dirt on them; a system which binds people to service in such demanding (pun intended) conditions but can’t monitor and balance the stress levels.
Mere words of respect and equality for women make us hypocritical as in the true sense it’s still a man’s world where women fight for their rightful place and questions are never asked!
The army retaliates that there were no formal requests for leave of service but why did it carry on with an officer not mentally in the proper frame to do justice to her job?
From 2002-2005, according to data placed in the Lok Sabha, suicide rates have been one every five days! And still the kaleidoscopic excuses fly all over and wither away.
It is about time we realize the importance of applying the doctrines we preach and bring transparency to the highly regarded services of this country. For it would be beyond our imagination when mental trauma makes you your own prey… and more so when all she had wanted was to serve the country in glory!
Maybe there is glory in death- when in life all she got were all that she had never wanted!