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Karabi Gogoi: First Woman Naval Officer To Become Defence Attache

Karabi Gogoi is the first woman from the navy and the third from the military to become the defence attache.

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Rudrani Gupta
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Karabi Gogoi

Indian Navy has selected its first woman officer to be appointed as an assistant defence attache. Lt.Commander, Karabi Gogoi, a naval engineer currently posted in Karwar Base in coastal Karnataka, has been selected for the post. She will be an assistant defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

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According to the Times Of India, Lt-Commander Gogoi, who is set to finish her Russian language course this month,  is likely to take over the new post in Mosco in December after requisite approvals.

Key Takeaways:

  • LT-Commander Karabi Gogoi is the first woman naval officer to be appointed as a defence attache to Indian missions abroad. 
  • She has been selected as an assistant defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow.
  • She is a naval engineer currently posted in Karwar Base in Coastal Karnataka.
  • Gogoi specializes in constructing and maintaining warships.
  • Gogoi is the third woman in the military to be appointed as a defence attache.
  • Wing Commander Anjali Singh from Indian Air Force is the first woman officer to be appointed as a defence attache.  

Karabi Gogoi is now the first woman from the navy and the third from the military to become a defence attache.

Post of Defence Attache:

Defence Attaches are military personnel or officers who deal with the Indian military missions overseas. They are posted in foreign countries as the representatives of their native country. Their main task is to maintain the overseas contact of military authorities of both the countries. They also keep a track of the new military technologies available in the host countries. India has more than 100 defence attaches from all the three military services,  posted in the UK, US, Russia and many other countries.

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Also Read: Wing Commander Anjali Singh: Nation’s First Woman Defence Attaché

Once again, breaking the ceiling of the male-dominated profession

The post of defence attache is a male-dominated space. Male officers from all the three military services- army, navy and air force- are usually appointed as defence attache to deal with the Indian missions abroad. When Nirmala Sitharaman held the post of Defence Minister in India, she introduced the proposal to allow global exposure to women in the military.

Eventually, the tradition was transcended when Indian Air Force officer, Wing Commander Anjali Singh, became the first-ever woman defence attache abroad on September 10. She is also posted in Moscow as a deputy defence attache. She is an aeronautical engineer with a specialization in handling of fighter jets.

When Nirmala Sitharaman held the post of Defence Minister in India, she introduced the proposal to allow global exposure to women in the military.

Karabi Gogoi:

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As a result of the initial steps to make Indian military diverse in gender, Karabi Gogoi is now the first woman from the navy and the third from the military to become a defence attache. According to TOI, “She was selected over other candidates for the diplomatic assignment after an interview conducted by a board of senior naval officers.”

Born and brought up in Guwahati, Gogoi joined Indian Navy in the year 2010. She has a specialization in constructing and maintaining the warships. Besides, her current post of Lt-Commander is equal in rank to the Army Major. Gogoi’s husband, Lt-Commander Pranjal Handique is also in Indian Navy posted as a gunnery officer.

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.

Also Read:  Martyred Pilot’s Wife Steps Into His Shoes, Set To Join Indian Air Force

Indian Navy military Anjali Singh Karabi Gogoi Woman Defence Attache
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