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{{Short description|Indian Army officer}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Major (rank)|Major]]
| name = Radhika Sen
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| image_upright =
| alt = Major Radhika Sen
| caption = Major Sen at [[New York (state)|New York]] interacting with UN News
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Radhika Sen
| other_name =
| nickname =
| birth_date = 1993
| birth_place = [[Sundernagar]], [[Mandi District|Mandi]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
| disappeared_date =
| disappeared_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| allegiance = [[India]]
| branch = [[Indian Army]]
| branch_label = Service
| serviceyears = 2016–present
| serviceyears_label = Years of Service
| rank = [[Major (rank)|Major]]
| rank_label =
| servicenumber =
| unit = [[Indian Army Service Corps]] (IASC)
| commands = Engagement Platoon Commander, Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion
| known_for = Recipient of the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2023)
| battles =
| battles_label =
| awards = United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
| memorials =
| alma_mater = [[Panjab University]], [[Chandigarh]]; [[IIT Bombay]]<ref name="iitb">{{cite web
| date = 10 June 2024
| title = IIT Bombay Alumna, Major Radhika Sen, Receives Prestigious UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
| url = https://acr.iitbombay.org/news/iit-bombay-alumna-major-radhika-sen-receives-prestigious-un-military-gender-advocate-of-the-year-award/
| work =
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref>
| spouse =
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}}
'''Major Radhika Sen''' is an [[Indian Army]] officer known for her impactful service with the [[United Nations peacekeeping]] mission in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. Born in [[Himachal Pradesh]] in 1993, she joined the army. As engagement platoon commander in [[MONUSCO]], she led efforts to support community security, [[gender equality]], and education for local populations.<ref name="hero">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| date = 31 May 2024
| title = Major Radhika Sen's service is true credit to United Nations as a whole: Secretary-General Guterres
| url = https://www.deccanherald.com/world/major-radhika-sens-service-is-true-credit-to-united-nations-as-a-whole-secretary-general-guterres-3045926
| agency = [[Press Trust of India|PTI]]
| website = [[Deccan Herald]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref> Her work earned her the 2024 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, with [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]] [[António Guterres]] commending her as a “true leader and role model.”<ref name="leader">{{cite news
| last = Kumar
| first = Ajeet
| date = 28 May 2024
| title = True leader and role model', UN Chief praises Himachal girl Major Radhika Sen for earning top military award
| url = https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/indian-army-major-radhika-sen-to-receive-2023-un-military-gender-advocate-of-the-year-award-un-chief-antonio-guterres-praises-her-2024-05-28-933883
| work = [[India TV]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Major Sen was born in 1993 in [[Baroh]] Village, [[ Mandi District]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]]. She completed her schooling at St. Mary's High School in [[Sundar Nagar|Sundernagar]], Himachal Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| date = 14 September 2016
| title = सुंदरनगर की राधिका सेन बनी लैफ्टिनैंट
| url = https://himachal.punjabkesari.in/mandi/news/bhadoh-radhika-sen-lieutenant-516038
| work = [[Punjab Kesari]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
| language = hi
}}</ref> Showing a strong interest in science, Sen pursued a bachelor's degree in [[biotechnology]] at [[Panjab University]], Chandigarh, and later attended the Indian [[IIT Bombay|Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay]], where she was working on her master's degree before joining the Indian Army.<ref name="iitb" /><ref name="posting">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| date = 31 May 2024
| title = Meet Major Radhika Sen: The Indian peacekeeper championing gender equality in UN Missions
| url = https://economictimes.com/news/defence/meet-major-radhika-sen-the-indian-peacekeeper-championing-gender-equality-in-un-missions/articleshow/110571686.cms
| work = [[The Economic Times]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref> Inspired by a passion for service, she left her studies mid-way to pursue a career in the military.

==Military career==
Sen began her military training in 2015 at the [[Officers Training Academy]] (OTA) in [[Chennai]]. After successfully completing her training, she served as a lieutenant in various postings across India, including [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]], and [[Sikkim]].<ref name="posting" />

==United Nations Peacekeeping Mission==

In March 2023, Major Sen was deployed to the [[MONUSCO|United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (MONUSCO), where she served as the Engagement Platoon Commander for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Mukherjee
| first = Vasudha
| date = 31 May 2024
| title = Major Radhika Sen receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
| url = https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/major-radhika-sen-receives-un-military-gender-advocate-of-the-year-award-124053101601_1.html
| work = [[Business Standard]]
| location = [[New Delhi]]
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref> Leading a team of both men and women, her role focused on community engagement, addressing security concerns, and advocating for the rights of [[women's right|women]] and [[children's rights|children]]. She established Community Alert Networks to help civilians report security issues, created spaces for local women to voice concerns, and conducted educational programs to improve self-reliance.<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| date = 28 May 2024
| title = Indian Peacekeeper Wins 2023 Military Gender Advocate of Year Award
| url = https://press.un.org/en/2024/pko825.doc.htm
| work = [[United Nations|UN]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
In May 2024, Major Sen received the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. This award recognized her contributions to gender-sensitive peacekeeping efforts, leadership in conflict zones, and her work to empower women in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]].<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| date = 29 May 2024
| title = Quicksplained: Who is Major Radhika Sen, the Indian Army officer to be honoured with the UN advocacy award?
| url = https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/quicksplained-major-radhika-sen-indian-army-officer-un-advocacy-award-13776450.html
| work = [[First Post]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref> [[United Nations|UN]] [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|
Secretary-General]] [[António Guterres]] commended her as a "true leader and role model," noting her dedication to community-building and humanitarian initiatives.<ref name ="leader"/><ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| date = 31 May 2024
| title = Major Radhika Sen receives prestigious 2023 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
| url = https://indianexpress.com/article/india/major-radhika-sen-receives-prestigious-2023-un-military-gender-advocate-of-the-year-award-9362408/
| agency = [[Press Trust of India|PTI]]
| website = [[The Indian Express]]
| location =
| access-date = 10 November 2024
}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[United Nations peacekeeping]]
*[[Women in peacekeeping]]
*[[MONUSCO]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sen, Radhika}}
[[Category:Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:United Nations peacekeeping]]
[[Category:1993 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Radhika Sen - Revision history

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