IMA POP: ‘We carried 50kg-rucksacks & ran for training, never lagged behind male cadets’

Dehradun: When the National Defence Academy (NDA) opened its doors to women in 2022, 19-year-old Shriti Daksh knew she had found her calling. At the time, she was pursuing her first year of BCom at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi.

Despite repeated cautions from her father, retired Wing Commander Yogesh Daksh, about the demanding nature of military life, she remained determined to serve the nation in uniform.Hailing from a defence family, Shriti persevered through the rigorous three-year NDA training regimen and emerged as one of the top performers of her course. Lieutenant Shriti Daksh, who is now set to join the Army Aviation Corps, also secured the top position in the BA stream at the NDA in 2025.Recalling the historic moment on Saturday when women cadets passed out from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) for the first time, Lieutenant Shriti said the women matched their male counterparts in every challenge. “Outdoor camps and running with 40–50 kg rucksacks were an integral part of the training. We carried out every task shoulder to shoulder with our counterparts,” she said.

An avid swimmer with a keen interest in military history and philosophy, Shruti credited the spirit of camaraderie at the academy for helping women cadets overcome the challenges of military training.

Speaking to TOI, she said, “The academy has a structured training programme that teaches the importance of always having a comrade by your side. We experienced our highest highs and lowest lows together, but all nine of us sailed through those times with the support of our juniors, seniors and coursemates. That is something I will carry with me forever.”The Daksh family recalled the difficult decision Shriti faced in 2022 when she had to choose between continuing her studies at SRCC and joining the NDA. “It was a tough choice between completing my graduation at SRCC and joining the NDA, but I had to make a decision and follow my goal. My mother, Anju Daksh, a history teacher, has been my greatest inspiration, while my motivation to join the defence services came from my father and my sister Kriti, who serves as a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force,” she said.

Standing proudly at the academy, her father, Yogesh Daksh, recalled his initial reluctance to allow her to join the NDA. “As an NDA alumnus, I was fully aware of the rigorous training that the academy demands. In fact, I had advised her against joining the NDA. Today, however, I am an immensely proud father of both my daughters,” he said. His elder daughter, also an SRCC graduate of 2022, joined the IAF in 2023.