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{{short description|Indian military officer}}
{{short description|Indian military officer}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix  = Surgeon [[Vice Admiral]]<br /> [[Lieutenant General]]  
| honorific_prefix  = Surgeon [[Vice admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]<br /> [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]]  
| name              = Punita Arora
| name              = Punita Arora
| honorific_suffix  = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
| honorific_suffix  = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
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| branch        = {{army|India}}<br /> {{navy|India}}
| branch        = {{army|India}}<br /> {{navy|India}}
| serviceyears =  
| serviceyears =  
| rank          = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|12px]] [[Lieutenant General]] <br /> [[File:Indian Vice Admiral.gif|12px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| rank          = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|12px]] [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] <br /> [[File:Indian Vice Admiral.gif|12px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| servicenumber = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records -->
| servicenumber = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records -->
| unit          =  
| unit          =  
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}}
}}


Surgeon [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] ([[Lieutenant General]]) '''Punita Arora''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] is a former [[Flag Officer]] of the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Army]]. Arora was the first woman in the [[Indian Armed Forces]] to be promoted to a [[Three-star rank]]. She held the ranks of [[Lieutenant General]] in the [[Indian Army]]<ref name="WisdenICoC">{{cite news | url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/16army1.htm | title=The General in Sari | website=Specials.rediff.com}}</ref> and Surgeon [[Vice Admiral]] in the [[Indian Navy]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Navy-to-get-first-lady-Vice-Admiral/articleshow/1132784.cms | title=Navy gets its 1st lady vice-admiral | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | date=16 June 2005}}</ref>
Surgeon [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] ([[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]) '''Punita Arora''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] is a former [[Flag Officer]] of the [[Indian Navy]] and the [[Indian Army]]. Arora was the first woman in the [[Indian Armed Forces]] to be promoted to a [[Three-star rank]]. She held the ranks of [[Lieutenant General]] in the [[Indian Army]]<ref name="WisdenICoC">{{cite news | url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/16army1.htm | title=The General in Sari | website=Specials.rediff.com}}</ref> and Surgeon [[Vice Admiral]] in the [[Indian Navy]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Navy-to-get-first-lady-Vice-Admiral/articleshow/1132784.cms | title=Navy gets its 1st lady vice-admiral | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | date=16 June 2022}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
She was born into a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] family which hails from [[Lahore]]. When she was only one-year-old, her family moved<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/16army2.htm|title=rediff.com: The General in a Sari - A Slide Show|website=Specials.rediff.com|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref> to [[India]] during partition and got settled in [[Saharanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="indianexpress.com">[https://archive.today/20130126135810/http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/57011/]</ref>
She was born into a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] family which hails from [[Lahore]]. When she was only one-year-old, her family moved<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/news/2004/sep/16army2.htm|title=rediff.com: The General in a Sari - A Slide Show|website=Specials.rediff.com|access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref> to [[India]] during partition and got settled in [[Saharanpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/57011/ |title = Stars & Stripes |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126135810/http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/57011/ |archive-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Education==
==Education==
She studied in Sophia School in [[Saharanpur]] till 8th grade. After that she moved to Guru Nanak Girls Inter-College. In 11th standard while getting admitted to Government school for boys she decided to take [[Science]] as a career.
She studied in Sophia School in [[Saharanpur]] till 8th grade. After that she moved to Guru Nanak Girls Inter-College. In 11th standard while getting admitted to Government school for boys she decided to take [[Science]] as a career.
She joined [[Armed Forces Medical College, Pune]]  in 1963<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/sorry.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014082605/http://www.thesundayindian.com/sorry.html |archive-date=2018-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was the second batch of the AFMC and she turned out to be the topper of that batch.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/>
She joined [[Armed Forces Medical College, Pune]]  in 1963<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/sorry.html |title=Sorry!! |access-date=2019-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014082605/http://www.thesundayindian.com/sorry.html |archive-date=2018-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was the second batch of the AFMC and she turned out to be the topper of that batch.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/>


==Career==
==Career==
Punita Arora was commissioned in January 1968.<ref name="financialexpress.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/a-doctor-who-looks-after-an-army/114580/|title=A Doctor Who Looks After An Army|date=8 September 2004|newspaper=The Financial Express|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
Punita Arora was commissioned in January 1968.<ref name="financialexpress.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/a-doctor-who-looks-after-an-army/114580/|title=A Doctor Who Looks After An Army|date=8 September 2004|newspaper=The Financial Express|accessdate=26 March 2022}}</ref>
Before becoming Surgeon Vice Admiral of Indian Navy she was [[Commandant]] of [[Armed Forces Medical College, Pune|AFMC]].
Before becoming Surgeon Vice Admiral of Indian Navy she was [[Commandant]] of [[Armed Forces Medical College, Pune|AFMC]].
She took the charge of commandant of Armed Forces Medical College on 1 September 2004 thereafter becoming the first woman officer to command the medical college.<ref name="tribuneindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040912/women.htm|title=Heera Mandi then and now|website=Tribuneindia.com|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref> Before that she was co-ordinating Medical Research of the armed forces at the [[United States Army|Army]] headquarters as additional director-general of Armed Forces Medical Services (Medical Research).<ref name="financialexpress.com"/>
She took the charge of commandant of Armed Forces Medical College on 1 September 2004 thereafter becoming the first woman officer to command the medical college.<ref name="tribuneindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040912/women.htm|title=Heera Mandi then and now|website=Tribuneindia.com|accessdate=26 March 2022}}</ref> Before that she was co-ordinating Medical Research of the armed forces at the [[United States Army|Army]] headquarters as additional director-general of Armed Forces Medical Services (Medical Research).<ref name="financialexpress.com"/>
She moved from the Army to the [[Indian Navy|Navy]] as the AFMS has a common pool which allows officers to migrate from one service to another depending on the requirement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050621/nation.htm|title=Exclusive varsities for PIOs on the cards: Tytler |website=Tribuneindia.com|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
She moved from the Army to the [[Indian Navy|Navy]] as the AFMS has a common pool which allows officers to migrate from one service to another depending on the requirement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050621/nation.htm|title=Exclusive varsities for PIOs on the cards: Tytler |website=Tribuneindia.com|accessdate=26 March 2022}}</ref>


==Awards and medals==
==Awards and medals==
She has been awarded with 15 medals in her 36 years of career in Indian Armed Forces.<ref name="tribuneindia.com"/>
She has been awarded with 15 medals in her 36 years of career in Indian Armed Forces.
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sena_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|colspan=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sena_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] (2002)
|[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] (2002)
|-
|-
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Service_and_campaign_medals|Special Service Medal]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces#Service and campaign medals|Special Service Medal]]
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Independence_medals|50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces#Independence medals|50th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|-
|-
|[[Awards_and_decorations_of_the_Indian_Armed_Forces#Independence_medals|25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces#Independence medals|25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
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|}
|}


*[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] for providing efficient and timely help to victims of the Kaluchak massacre.<ref name="tribuneindia.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/sorry.html|title=Sorry!!|website=Thesundayindian.com|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
*[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] for providing efficient and timely help to victims of the Kaluchak massacre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trendpunjabi.com/punita-arora-become-lieutenant-general-indian-army-sikh/|title=Lieutenant General Of Indian Army Was A Sikh!!!|website=TrendPunjabi.com|accessdate=10 March 2021}}</ref>
*[[Sena Medal]] for providing gynae-endoscopy and oncology facilities and pioneering invitro-fertilisation and assisted reproductive techniques for infertile and childless couples in military hospitals.<ref name="tribuneindia.com"/>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Women in the Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Padma Bandopadhyay]]
* [[Padma Bandopadhyay]]
* [[Madhuri Kanitkar]]
* [[Madhuri Kanitkar]]
* [[Sheila S. Mathai]]
* [[Rajshree Ramasethu]]
* [[Arti Sarin]]


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Arora, Punita}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arora, Punita}}
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Female army generals]]
[[Category:Female generals of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Female admirals]]
[[Category:Female admirals of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Women in 21st-century warfare]]
[[Category:Women in warfare post-1945]]
[[Category:Indian female military personnel]]

Revision as of 09:59, 16 October 2022


Punita Arora

Born (1946-05-31) May 31, 1946 (age 80)
Lahore, Punjab, British India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
 Indian Navy
Rank Lieutenant General
Vice Admiral
Commands heldArmed Forces Medical College
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Surgeon Vice Admiral (Lieutenant General) Punita Arora PVSM, SM, VSM is a former Flag Officer of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army. Arora was the first woman in the Indian Armed Forces to be promoted to a Three-star rank. She held the ranks of Lieutenant General in the Indian Army[1] and Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy.[2]

Early life

She was born into a Punjabi family which hails from Lahore. When she was only one-year-old, her family moved[3] to India during partition and got settled in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.[4]

Education

She studied in Sophia School in Saharanpur till 8th grade. After that she moved to Guru Nanak Girls Inter-College. In 11th standard while getting admitted to Government school for boys she decided to take Science as a career. She joined Armed Forces Medical College, Pune in 1963[5] which was the second batch of the AFMC and she turned out to be the topper of that batch.[4]

Career

Punita Arora was commissioned in January 1968.[6] Before becoming Surgeon Vice Admiral of Indian Navy she was Commandant of AFMC. She took the charge of commandant of Armed Forces Medical College on 1 September 2004 thereafter becoming the first woman officer to command the medical college.[7] Before that she was co-ordinating Medical Research of the armed forces at the Army headquarters as additional director-general of Armed Forces Medical Services (Medical Research).[6] She moved from the Army to the Navy as the AFMS has a common pool which allows officers to migrate from one service to another depending on the requirement.[8]

Awards and medals

She has been awarded with 15 medals in her 36 years of career in Indian Armed Forces.

Template:Ribbon devices/altTemplate:Ribbon devices/altTemplate:Ribbon devices/alt
Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Param Vishisht Seva Medal Sena Medal (2006) Vishisht Seva Medal (2002)
Special Service Medal Sangram Medal Sainya Seva Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
25th Independence Anniversary Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

References

  1. "The General in Sari". Specials.rediff.com.
  2. "Navy gets its 1st lady vice-admiral". The Times of India. 16 June 2022.
  3. "rediff.com: The General in a Sari - A Slide Show". Specials.rediff.com. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Stars & Stripes".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. "Sorry!!". Archived from the original on 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "A Doctor Who Looks After An Army". The Financial Express. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. "Heera Mandi then and now". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. "Exclusive varsities for PIOs on the cards: Tytler". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  9. "Lieutenant General Of Indian Army Was A Sikh!!!". TrendPunjabi.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.