Divya Ajith Kumar: Difference between revisions

|name             = Divya Ajith Kumar

|birth_place     = [[Chennai]], [[India]]

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'''Captain Divya Ajith Kumar''' is an officer of the [[Indian Army]] of AAD ([[Army Air Defence (India)|Army Air Defense]]). She passed out from OTA, [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/She-is-an-officer-and-a-woman/articleshow/51151743.cms|title=She is an officer and a woman {{!}} India News - Times of India|last=Feb 26|first=Abdullah Nurullah {{!}} TNN {{!}} Updated|last2=2016|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30|last3=Ist|first3=12:26}}</ref> She is the first woman to write her name in a fresh page of Indian Army history by becoming the first Lady Cadet to be conferred by the Army with the coveted ''Sword of Honour''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-cadet-creates-history-at-ota-passingout-parade/article697372.ece | title=Chennai cadet creates history at OTA passing-out parade | newspaper=The Hindu | date=19 September 2010 | accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref> She led all women contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during the Republic Day 2015 parade.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/25-year-old-captain-divya-ajith-leads-first-all-women-contingent-in-republic-day-parade-2064151.html | title=25-year-old Captain Divya Ajith leads first all-women contingent in Republic Day parade | magazine=First Post | date=26 January 2015 | accessdate=9 July 2015}}</ref>

Captain Divya Ajith Kumar born in Chennai to a [[Tamils|Tamil]] family. She is the first generation soldier with no army blood history in her past. She did her schooling at [[Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School (Marthandam)|Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School]], Chennai and went to [[Stella Maris College, Chennai|Stella Maris College]], Chennai where she completed her [[B.Com.]] (Hons). She joined NCC ([[National Cadet Corps (India)|National Cadet Corps]]) which inspired her to join [[Indian Army]] and participated in NCC women contingent in [[Rajpath]] and later joined OTA ( Officers training academy). She passed from OTA (Officers training academy). Divya Ajith Kumar became the first woman in the history of the Indian Army to receive the coveted ‘Sword of Honour' prize, which is awarded to the best cadet, where she passed with a total of 244 cadets, including 63 women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/110318/women-cadets-make-history.html|title=Women cadets make history|date=2018-03-11|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> She is also a multi-faceted personality, Divya is also an accomplished [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer, [[percussionist]] and well-versed in sports like [[basketball]] and [[discus throw]].

Captain Divya Ajith Kumar was commissioned into Corps of Army Air Defense on September 2010. Capt Divya also jointly topped the Young Officers' course of the Army Air Defence College in 2011 and was awarded the Silver Gun Trophy. Captain Divya Ajith Kumar led the first all-women contingent of the Army on Republic Day (26 January 2015). She led a contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during the parade, where [[Barack Obama|US President Barack Obama]] was present as the chief guest. Nearly 200 women officers from all over the country had come down to the OTA, and after a rigorous selection process, 126 officers, and 28 women cadets from the academy were selected for the parade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/miscellaneous/women-officers-steal-the-show-at-indias-71st-army-day-here-are-all-the-moments-when-they-proudly-led-the-forces/women-soldiers-business-insider-india/slideshow/67539135.cms|title="Women power" at display|last=|first=|date=|website=Business Insider|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref> Captain Divya Ajith Kumar was selected to lead the contingent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-saga-of-bravery-fortitude-and-committed-effort/article6976341.ece|title=A saga of bravery, fortitude and committed effort|author=Staff Reporter|date=2015-03-10|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-04-30|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She now teaches at Officers Training Academy in Chennai and travels to schools and colleges to talk to students and inspire them to consider a life serving the nation by choosing a career in the Armed Forces. She has inspired many women to join the armed forces.