From missiles to music, women achieved great heights: President Murmu at AWWA event

New Delhi: The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) organised the second season of ‘Asmita- Inspiring Stories by Army Wives’ in Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The forum was organised to share inspiring stories of wives of Army personnel who have created a niche for themselves in various fields, with their perseverance and resilience, after overcoming numerous challenges.

The event was attended by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu as the Chief Guest. Dr Sudesh Dhankar, wife of Vice President and Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture were the guests of honour. Archana Pande, President AWWA was the Chief Host.

President Droupadi Murmu in her address hailed ‘Nari Shakti’. She said women have scaled great heights in various fields ranging from “missile to music” by overcoming several odds.

There is an old saying that behind every successful man, there is a woman, but, today it should be instead said that “beside every successful man, there is a woman”, President Murmu said.

AWWA is an association that works for the welfare of the spouses, children and dependents of Army personnel. It is aptly called the invisible hand that shapes the punch of the Indian Army. The association was officially registered as a Welfare Society with the Registrar of Societies, Delhi Administration on 23 August 1966. Since its inception, AWWA has grown in its scope and reach. Today it stands proud as one of the largest NGOs in the country.

Asmita’ is a platform provided to courageous Army wives and achievers, who have shattered many glass ceilings to narrate their accounts and inspire others like them. It is a tribute to the struggle of the brave women, who faced fearful odds but still stood tall.

The first season of ‘Asmita’ was organised on 14 October 2022, the speakers represented a cross-section of the AWWA fraternity including Veer Naris, spouses of the Army personnel, artists, doctors, authors, cancer conquerors and veterans. It was followed by ‘Asmita Purba’ in Kolkata on 11 February 2023. Both the events were a resounding success and provided guidance and motivation to many Army wives to achieve their goals and led AWWA to organise ‘Asmita Season 2’.

Being wedded to the Olive Greens brings about many challenges in the lives of Army wives such as long separations, parenting challenges, frequent transfers, household and social responsibilities etc. Despite this, these speakers have bravely faced all the challenges and made a difference to society. Asmita has emerged as an ideal platform to identify women achievers and acknowledge their success stories and their contribution to the organisation as well as community, which in turn is a motivation for all others.

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