Lt Col Josyula Farida Rehana: Trailblazing Woman Paratrooper of the Indian Army

The annals of the Indian Army are marked by tales of exceptional bravery, resilience, and determination. Among such inspiring figures is Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Josyula Farida Rehana, a trailblazing officer of the Army Medical Corps who became the first woman officer in the Indian Army to qualify as a paratrooper. At a time when women were rarely chosen for challenging operational roles, she defied traditional norms and claimed her position in one of the Army's most elite formations. Her impressive journey from being a distinguished medical student to a celebrated military surgeon and airborne officer represents a significant milestone in the history of women in India's armed forces.

Farida Rehana was born in Mysore in 1940 and exhibited academic prowess early on. She pursued her medical studies at Mysore Medical College, graduating with an MBBS degree, earning honors and a prestigious gold medal in Surgery. Her exemplary academic achievements established her as a highly competent young doctor before she joined military service.

In the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Government of India sought to strengthen the Armed Forces, which included the recruitment of medical professionals. Driven by a desire to serve the nation, Farida Rehana joined the Indian Army in 1964 as a medical officer in the Army Medical Corps. However, her aspirations extended beyond this achievement, as she aimed to join the elite Parachute Regiment.

Her ambitions were met with immediate resistance. At that time, women were not expected to serve in airborne units, and her applications to join the Parachute Regiment's medical component were repeatedly declined solely due to her gender. Reflecting on those experiences years later, she noted that despite meeting all professional requirements, she was told women wouldn't be permitted in such roles. Different sources recount that her application was rejected two or three times before it was eventually accepted.

Her determination ultimately triumphed. She was assigned to the renowned 60 Parachute Field Hospital, also known as the 60 Parachute Medical Company, a specialized airborne medical unit with a distinguished operational history. The unit had earned international recognition for its service during the Korean War and remained a crucial component of India's airborne capabilities.

On 19 September 1966, Farida Rehana completed the rigorous parachute training course and earned her paratrooper wings, becoming the first woman officer in the Indian Army to qualify as a paratrooper and the first woman officer to join an operational airborne unit. Although Flight Lieutenant Gita Chanda of the Indian Air Force had earlier become the first woman in the Indian Armed Forces to qualify as a parachutist in 1959, Rehana's accomplishment was a historic first for the Indian Army.

Her career in the airborne forces lasted over a decade. Of her 21 years in military service, nearly 12 years were spent with the para unit. She completed hundreds of parachute jumps under arduous operational conditions. Various accounts claim nearly 1,000 jumps in her career, while her own recollections mention about 500, including combat free-fall training. She is also recognized in historical accounts as the first woman free-fall paratrooper in the Indian Army.

Although women were not allowed to serve in combat arms during that era, Farida Rehana played a crucial role within the airborne medical establishment. She trained alongside paratroopers, maintained operational readiness, and was prepared to deploy wherever the Parachute Brigade was assigned. Her responsibilities required exceptional physical endurance, professional skill, and the ability to operate effectively under some of the most challenging battlefield conditions.

Her most notable operational service occurred during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, known as Operation Cactus Lily. Serving with the 60 Parachute Field Hospital, she provided frontline surgical care on both the Eastern and Western fronts. Working under wartime conditions, she performed surgeries and treated wounded soldiers near active combat zones, directly contributing to the Army's medical support during one of India's most significant military victories. For her wartime service, she was awarded both the Poorvi Star and the Paschimi Star.

Throughout her illustrious military career, Farida Rehana continued to achieve numerous distinctions. She became the first woman officer to receive the prestigious General Choudhary's Trophy during the 34th Medical Officers Senior Course, underscoring her professional excellence within the Army Medical Corps.

Decades after her retirement, the nation formally acknowledged her pioneering contributions. In January 2018, the Ministry of Women and Child Development selected her among 112 distinguished women from across India for the Women Achievers Award. The honor was presented by President Ram Nath Kovind on 20 January 2018, recognizing her historic achievements as the Indian Army's first woman paratrooper and one of its pioneering military surgeons.

Farida Rehana has often reflected positively on the significant transformation in opportunities available to women in today's armed forces. In interviews after her retirement, she expressed happiness at seeing young women officers serving across various appointments with improved facilities and institutional support. She viewed these changes as encouraging progress while taking pride in having contributed to the foundation upon which future generations would build.

The legacy of Lt Col (Retd.) Josyula Farida Rehana extends beyond her personal accomplishments. She demonstrated that determination, professional excellence, and courage could surmount deeply rooted institutional barriers. Long before women began entering a wider range of operational roles in the Indian Armed Forces, she had already proven that competence—not gender—should determine opportunity. Today, as women continue to break new ground across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, her pioneering journey remains a powerful reminder of the resilience and commitment that helped reshape the future of military service in India.