As an Army officer’s wife, Lt Ruchi Verma had a peaceful life till 2013 when her husband Major Vineet Verma died in action in the insurgency-hit Balipara, Assam. The ‘veer nari’ title given to army widows wasn’t enough for Verma: She stepped out of the comforts of her home and virtually took over her husband’s duty to the nation, enrolling herself at the Officer’s Training Academy, Chennai last year. Lt Ruchi Verma, 24, was among the 185 cadets of OTA who were formally inducted as officers of the Indian Army.
“My life has turned upside down since I joined the training academy,” said Lt Ruchi Verma, who hopes her five-year old son Akshat Verma will join the Army someday. “I always liked being an officer’s lady,” she said, after the piping ceremony where she was commissioned as Lt Ruchi Verma.
“When Vineet was alive, I had a comfortable life. Servants always carried my bags. I travelled by car for even a distance of 100m. And then, as my training started, I had to run, carrying heavy weaponry,” she said.
Lt Ruchi Verma had to crop her long tresses for the training. When it comes to hard, rigorous training, women are treated as equals to men here in the training academy, said the lady officer. “My legs ached and it became very difficult to run during the first six months of the training. But I wanted to face it, fight it and finish it. I feel fitter and ready for battle now,” she said.
Ruchi’s husband Vineet Verma, who joined the Army in 2006, became a Major in 2009. Since then he had been posted in field areas (line of control) all around the country. He laid down his life after seven years in service.
A native of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Ruchi met Vineet, from Allahabad, after their marriage was arranged by elders. “He was committed to the service and I want to take the good work forward,” she said. Their son Akshat who is to join class 1 is looked after by Ruchi’s mother.
