When They Marched In: A Chronicle of NDA’s First Daughters

They arrived not with fanfare, but with grit stitched quietly into their hearts. It was July 2022. The monsoon had just begun to sweep through Pune, soaking its ancient streets and distant forts. On a platform at Pune railway station, nineteen girls in civilian attire assembled after stepping off long-distance trains—duffle bags in hand, nerves tight, and eyes wide with the anticipation of history. A tall drill Ustad with a chest full of ribbons and a moustache trained by generations stood waiting. His voice, when it came, was sharp yet proud. 

“From this moment, you are not civilians. You represent the Indian Armed Forces. The country is watching. Walk like one, carry yourself like one.”

Startled into attention, they fell in. That line would stay with them long after their boots had left Platform No. 1.

The convoy moved through a city rich in martial legacy—past Shaniwarwada, past the rolling expanse of Pune Camp, and toward the cool waters of Khadakwasla. The Tri-Shakti Gate of NDA loomed ahead. They passed through it slowly, uncertain but proud. The Sudan Block came into view, regal and eternal, as if waiting to record this new chapter in its storied walls.

They were led to Romeo Squadron, part of which had been refurbished with care and attention to detail. Enhanced lighting, secure fencing, designated lady duty officers, and minor layout changes weren’t signs of separation—they were signs of a thoughtful institution preparing its daughters for battle, not merely hosting them. Behind the scenes, months of preparation had taken place: security protocols were redefined, a new code of conduct evolved, and traditions—long steeped in a male-only legacy—were revisited and modernised, without losing their essence.

From day one, the message was clear: the Academy was not making exceptions. It was making history.

As they looked around, the scale of their leap became visible. Nineteen girls. Over 2200 male cadets. The odds were overwhelming. But so was the pride. What played in their minds? Perhaps uncertainty. Perhaps resolve. But definitely this: that nineteen of them would be course-mates for life, joined by the most powerful bond the Academy forges—one not of friendship, but of shared fire, struggle, and purpose. They were a course, and that meant everything.

History made at National Defence Academy

The first term hit like a monsoon storm—early mornings, drill square corrections, endless PT, obstacle courses, academic classes, and military routines so tightly packed that even blinking seemed a luxury. The Drill Instructors, or Ustads, roared louder than the skies. But beneath their thunder, they watched over the cadets like elder brothers—strict, disciplined, but fiercely protective. They were quick to punish, but quicker to acknowledge effort.

The Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) were quieter, more methodical. Their task: transform girls into soldiers—agile, strong, and enduring. The obstacle course, log races, fireman lifts, and punishing endurance runs built more than muscle. They built belief. And then came the academic classes—held in the imposing Sudan and Manoj Pandey Blocks. Cadets rushed in after morning drills, breathless, still catching their last sips of tea. 

Subjects ranged from international relations to military history, physics to geopolitics, and foundation-level knowledge of all three services. Some cadets found themselves so exhausted that the line between blinking and dozing was often just one nod—a scene familiar to every cadet ever trained at NDA. But the girls held their own. In classrooms, on quiz fields, in lectures by decorated officers—they asked questions, gave answers, and soaked in knowledge that would serve them far beyond the classroom.

If the classrooms sharpened their minds, it was the outdoor camps that tested their soul. Living under canvas, rationing biscuits, learning cross-country navigation, reading maps in rain-soaked darkness, leading squads through unfamiliar terrain, surviving on cold meals and camaraderie—this was where officers were made. The girls didn’t just survive. They led. They developed a natural camaraderie with their male coursemates, forged through shared mud, firewood, bruises, and laughs. Bonds formed in the field had no gender—only trust, sweat, and the silent nod of mutual respect. 

The Divisional Officers, who oversee the training, grooming, and overall development of cadets, played a pivotal role in this journey. Beyond their instructional responsibilities, they became mentors, moral anchors, and guiding forces. By the time a cadet completes the sixth term, the Divisional Officer has already shaped their mindsets, value systems, and leadership character with subtle precision and enduring influence.

By the third term, jokes flew in the ante-rooms. By the fourth term, they were picking each other up after falls—literally and figuratively. By the sixth term, they no longer looked like "the first batch of girl cadets." They looked like leaders.

Life at NDA

Life at NDA has a rhythm. You don’t control it; it shapes you. The soul of NDA lives in the scent of wet parade boots, ironed uniforms, and monsoon-washed earth. It lingers in the echo of commands at dawn and laughter at dusk. It’s in the quiet pride, the shared fatigue, and the invisible thread of honour that binds every cadet, forever and always. 

The Adjutant of NDA, ever vigilant and impeccably turned out, represents the pinnacle of drill and discipline. Mounted on his white charger during ceremonial parades, he occupies a revered place in every cadet’s memory. His sharp gaze and crisp orders symbolise the exacting standards the Academy upholds and instils.

The cadets marched on the Khetarpal Parade Ground and gathered in the ante-rooms for daily orders. They ran cross-country, acted in plays, won debates, and sang in cultural evenings. They excelled in obstacle races, led squads in drill, and became appointments in squadrons. They took the ethos of NDA—service before self, integrity beyond reproach, leadership through action—and made it their second skin. Today, they’re fully integrated into squadrons, routines, punishments, privileges, and pride. They are part of the traditions now, not just recipients of it, but custodians.

When parents visited on midterms or designated days, they saw a transformation few could have imagined. The girl who left home was gone. In her place stood a cadet—taller, steadier, sharper in salute, firmer in values. For the parents, what began in apprehension ended in admiration. Even the sceptics among veterans now salute the progress. The system had worked. The girls had adapted. And most importantly, NDA had grown stronger.

Now, they prepare to leave for the next phase: the Indian Military Academy, the Indian Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. But this time, they won’t be nineteen among thousands. They’ll be officer cadets expected to lead, to excel, and to carry the NDA standard forward. They’ll face tough competition—not only from female peers but also male counterparts across academies. They’ll be tested in leadership, operations, technology, and ethics. And they’ll have to lead in an environment shaped by Operation Sindoor, where the lines of warfare are blurred and expectations from every officer are sharper than ever.

In the future, they may command platoons, manage logistics in contested zones, pilot aircraft, direct satellite operations, or manage battlefield communication grids. But wherever they go, the true compass will remain values—those etched into them at NDA. They will need to be: Courageous in thought and deed. Ethical in command and conduct. Humble in success, and resilient in setback. Technologically aware, tactically sound, and emotionally grounded. And always, deeply rooted in service before self.

On 30 May 2025, they will step onto Khetarpal Parade Ground for one final time. The Chief Guest, flanked by NDA’s top brass, will salute as the cadets march past. There will be no special mention, no gender distinction. Just a uniform stride, a common rhythm, a shared legacy.

 And as they pass the Tri-Shakti Gate one last time, NDA will not be saying goodbye. It will be saying: Go lead. You are ready.

They came as nineteen girls.
They leave as trailblazers.
And in doing so, they didn’t just become part of NDA history
They made it.

This article is authored by Maj Gen Sanjeev Dogra (Retd), former Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of NDA.