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special day
April 6 is not special for most people, but to a certain group of women in the Indian Air Force, it is a landmark. That was the day 13 years ago when a batch of 25 engineers was commissioned into the IAF, pioneers in the non-medical category.
And April 6 this year? The four officers who continued service after the initial tenure of six years became Wing Commanders. The day passed by as usual to all but the rest of the course mates — the would-have-been wing commanders.
Each of the 21 former aeronautical engineers of the Air Force shared and relived the excitement of the moment. And also wondered if the policy-makers would let their still-serving colleagues-at-arms complete a career in the armed forces.
Or intended to show them the door at the end of 15 years' service, service that reads the same as any contemporary peer's.
Way back in 1993, one thought that six years was enough time for the powers-that-be to make up their minds about letting non-medical women have a career in the armed forces; an added nine years surely should do?
R. Swarnalatha
Former Flight Lieutenant
First batch of technical women officers in the IAF
Trees and more
Nice article on the names of trees (A tree by no other name, MetroPlus, April 5, 2006) and our growing ignorance. I am a supposed `pro-environmentalist' — if it's not a bad word to use, but often get caught while identifying trees.
Sadly the city dwellers don't even care about saving the trees, leave alone remembering their names.
Can the media, especially a dignified publication such as
The Hindu, play a more proactive role in spreading awareness about trees, thereby changing people's mindset apropos of trees and the larger issue of development?
Aashish
On email
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