Divya Ajith Kumar
BornChennai, India
AllegianceIndia
Service/branchCorps of Army Air Defence
AwardsSword of Honour
Alma materStella Maris College, Chennai (B.Com.)

Captain Divya Ajith Kumar is an Army Air Defense (AAD) officer in the Indian Army. She graduated from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.[1] Kumar is the first woman to be conferred by the Army with the Sword of Honour, a prize given to the best cadet.[2] She led an all-woman contingent of 154 female officers and cadets during the Republic Day Parade in 2015.[3]

Early life and education

Divya Ajith Kumar was born in Chennai to a Tamil family. She is a first-generation soldier. She attended Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and Stella Maris College, Chennai, where she completed her B.Com. (Hons). She joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and participated in the NCC women contingent in Rajpath. Kumar later joined, and graduated from the Officers Training Academy (OTA). Kumar was awarded the Sword of Honour prize, given to the best cadet. She was the first woman to be awarded the prize.[4]

Military career

Kumar was commissioned into Corps of Army Air Defence in September 2010. She also jointly topped the Young Officers' course of the Army Air Defence College in 2011 and was awarded the Silver Gun Trophy. Kumar led the first all-women contingent of the Army on Republic Day in 2015. She led a contingent of 126 officers and 28 cadets during the parade, where US President Barack Obama was present as the chief guest.[5][6] She currently teaches at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.

References

  1. ↑ Nurullah, Abdullah (26 February 2016). "She is an officer and a woman". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Chennai cadet creates history at OTA passing-out parade". The Hindu. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "25-year-old Captain Divya Ajith leads first all-women contingent in Republic Day parade". First Post. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Women cadets make history". Deccan Chronicle. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Staff Reporter (10 March 2015). "A saga of bravery, fortitude and committed effort". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ↑ ""Women power" at display". Business Insider. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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