Tania Sher Gill, all-women CRPF motorcycle team give many girls goosebumps

Captain Tania Sher Gill, who led an all-men contingent at the Republic Day parade on Sunday, gave many girls goosebumps in the huge crowd at Rajpath.

The all-women motorcycle team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also won hearts with their daredevilry and many young women felt pumped up and inspired after watching them.

Gill and the CRPF team, among others represented the 'Nari Shakti' at the ceremonial event, and the charm literally rubbed off on to many in the crowd.

Aarushi Goyal, 16, a class 12 student of the Delhi Public School, Indirapuram, said, she had "found her idol" in Capt Sher Gill, a fourth generation Army officer, who led the marching contingent of the Corps of Signals.

Wearing a khaki uniform and holding a ceremonial sword, as the 26-year-old trailblazer officer of the Corps of Signals marched down the Rajpath, she was the cynosure of all eyes.

"The sight of her (Gill) leading the men, as she strode confidently, gave me goosebumps. I stood up, closed my eyes and held my breath...It was kind of surreal for me," Goyal said, adding that "from kitchen work to armed forces, women have come a long way".

The Hoshiarpur-born officer had recently created history by becoming the first woman Parade Adjutant to lead an all-men contingents during the Army Day function on January 15.

A graduate of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, she added another feather to her cap on Sunday, saying, it was a feeling of "immense honour and great pride, a sense of achievement and worthiness, and absolute blessing".

The CRPF team too drew loud applause and stunned looks from the crowd, as its members performed dardevil stunts on Rajpath.

Diksha Chaudhary, 19, in the crowd, stood atop her chair, clapped and whistled when the all-women team zipped down the Rajpath in astonishing display of courage.

As women personnel formed human pyramid on Royal Enfield motorcycles, Chaudhary, shouted "Jai Hind", saluted the soldiers and murmured to her friend, "Yaar ye karna hai ha ( I wish to do this)."
Chug, a vice-captain in a Noida-based private school, said, "I will paste the photos I have taken today on the walls of my room and draw inspiration from them. There's nothing women cannot do."