Women Officers Lead Historic All-Women Sailing Expedition "Samudra Pradakshina" for Indian Armed Forces
Women officers of the Indian Armed Forces are making history with Samudra Pradakshina, India’s inaugural all-women Tri-Services circumnavigation sailing expedition, marking a significant milestone in gender empowerment and military integration.
Leading this ground-breaking venture are Major Omita Dalvi of the Indian Army and Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev of the Indian Air Force, who have become prominent figures representing Naari Shakti on the international front.
A Historic Global Voyage
The expedition, which commenced in September 2025, is set to traverse over 26,000 nautical miles across some of the world's most challenging maritime routes over a nine-month period. Ten women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force are participating, sailing on the Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni, which was indigenously constructed.
The team has covered nearly 10,000 nautical miles and made a temporary return ashore before continuing their circumnavigation journey.
Shattering Stereotypes at Sea
Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev explained the mission's deeper purpose, emphasizing the challenge to gender stereotypes:
“Sailing has long been seen as a male-dominated field. This expedition proves why an all-women circumnavigation was necessary—to show what women are truly capable of.”
Major Omita Dalvi pointed out that the expedition has dispelled numerous societal myths:
“We have sailed for 45 consecutive days at sea without men onboard. Every stereotype—that women cannot handle technical work, long separations, or extreme conditions—has been broken.”
Promoting Maritime Culture and Jointmanship
In addition to empowerment, Samudra Pradakshina aims to foster sailing and maritime sports in India, a country with vast coastlines but a limited sailing tradition. The expedition also highlights the camaraderie among the Tri-Services, with officers having trained together from 2022 to 2025, including nine preparatory sailing expeditions covering approximately 10,000 nautical miles before the main mission.
The officers attribute their success in these extreme conditions to teamwork and inter-service collaboration.
A Defining Moment for India
Currently navigating some of the world's most challenging waters, the expedition is projected to conclude in Mumbai by May 2026. This will mark a historic moment in India’s military and maritime history as the remaining members return home.
Under the leadership of Major Omita Dalvi and Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev, Samudra Pradakshina stands as a strong testament to courage, endurance, and the rising prominence of women in uniform, demonstrating that India's daughters are ready to conquer not only battlefields but also the oceans.
