Battling Covid-19

Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, AVSM, VSM is the third woman officer to be awarded the second highest rank in the Army one of Lt. General. There are several firsts to her credit too, that includes being the first woman paediatrician who has been elevated to such a rank in the Armed Forces. She is also the only doctor who has the honour of being on the PM’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC) Innovation Advisory Committee. That apart, she is also the first paediatric nephrologist in the Army. Lt. Gen. Kanitkar spoke to Dr Abhay Jere, Chief Innovation Officer, MHRD, in a stimulating conversation over Twitter. The tell-all interview of this soldier, medico and teacher was widely appreciated by the viewers. Here is how the interview unfolded

Abhay Jere: You are from a clinical background. The medical health providers are currently at the frontline as COVID warriors. How are Army clinicians moving shoulder to shoulder with civilian clinicians?

(File Photo) Maj. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar
at Northern Command, J&K

Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar : It’s a war and a time at which, the whole nation has come across as one. I have never seen a situation where the entire fraternity of doctors, healthcare workers, admin, scientists, everyone, has come together and therefore the medical fraternity from the Armed Forces has come up in full measure. During a war, in this situation, the country does not need soldiers alone but also doctors and teachers. We are doctors in uniform. In fact, we are three in one role, doctors, soldiers and teachers as we lead our team of healthcare workers. This gives us an added advantage. The Armed Forces have closely liaised with all civil authorities. The Army Chief has assured that 28 hospitals are earmarked as Covid hospitals and the Armed Forces will come in the aid of all civil admin whenever required. Even initially, when a lot of people came from abroad, the first quarantine facility was set up by the Army. In these times, there is no Army and civil. We are all Indians as one, the Armed Forces is always there for all services. We have continued to provide support in every situation. The Airforce has flown medicines and PPEs to different parts of the country. The Navy has helped in bringing stranded citizens home. Our labs scaled-up testing facilities and in some stations, they have been designated as state labs. The role in J&K and Ladakh is especially noteworthy.

Coming back to your role in the Army, you recently got promoted to a three star General. This achievement was celebrated as you are the third woman to get a three star General rank. Why are less women achieving in this field?

It’s still a novelty because there are less women in the Army. Forty to fifty years ago, less women were joining the Army, for it was more male dominated organisation. Ladies were joining as doctors or nurses. Today, the Armed Forces have opened up a permanent commission for women. We will see more and more women coming up and reaching higher ranks in the years to come. However, the percentage of women is overall less in the Armed Forces as they form only 20 to 25 per cent of the organisation even in the Medical Corps. It’s a pyramidal structure. In that, most women are from the Short Service Commission. Back then, lasting for so long and getting the senior rank was a rarity. It’s a question of time. Doors have opened up women are entering the Army like never before and will surely scale the heights with their capability.

Undoubtedly, being in the Army is a tough job. But you have survived so many years in it. How did you maintain work-life balance? How did the Army support you in this?

Work life balance is for everyone, whether males or females. A lot of times we put the blame too much on the work or life itself but it is up to us as to how we strike the balance. Having said that, it was tough because, in those days, it was not a policy strictly followed for spouse colocation. In my over 36 years of marriage, we were posted together only for twelve years, the rest 24 years, we were staying separately. Most people, under such circumstances, tend to give up. I was lucky. I had tremendous support from my husband. Sometimes, my in-laws, at other times my parents were a great source of strength. Family and friends supported me a lot when I was alone. My colleagues too never shied away from helping me out. The environment in the organisation was extremely safe and congenial as well as helpful. We never got childcare leave, which is now available. From no maternity leave to two months of this leave and now six months of maternity leave today, the Armed Forces have come a long way. It is helping with spouse co location when both are serving. Any organisation cannot keep giving. You have to give back as employees and therefore, I urge young women to rise up to the occasion and give back your best to the organisation. Women with this attitude also become tougher in the process. She must feel that “Yes, I am lucky to be in a safe, respected, honourable career. It will make me tough and teach me how to handle challenges”. Attitude is important when it comes to striking the work-life balance.

"Today’s youngsters are way ahead of us. They have information and knowledge, so they have to use them to make wise decisions”

Whether women should be put in combat roles has been an age-old debate. What is your take on this?

What is important is not just the women. You don’t clap with one hand but two. You don’t shake one hand, but shake two. Efforts have to be made from both the sides, whether the organisation or the women. Women make their way while the organisation lines their path to make it easier for them to traverse it. That is what is happening. You can’t suddenly put a woman in a combat role as the hardships and problems are there but at the same time, you cannot envisage all the problems that will arise. You have to cross the bridge as you reach it. Time has come where all the actions are being taken. It doesn’t directly affect us because being in the medical service, we have been there for so long, working shoulder to shoulder with men. Therefore, women’s ability to do something should not be stereotyped. The question of gender shouldn’t be coming in the way of capability. What the organisation is doing is great, it is not pushing decisions and jumping into it with eyes closed. It is taking it one step at a time. This will help both the women as well as the organisation because there is a shortage of officers. So finally, it is not about gender but capability. You have to come up to the mark and the organisation will accept it two way traffic.

Receiving Fellowship Paediatric Nephrology award

Corporate Citizen: Post COVID-19, what would be the changes in Army offices and field stations?

Madhuri Kanitkar: The Army will continue to function primarily to protect the Nation. We have made our protocols to safeguard the health of our troops and their families as per the National Guidelines. We will be using our video conferencing facilities and telemedicine more effectively.

CC: What are the lessons for every soldier and officer of the Armed Forces from the pandemic?

That an enemy is not only in human form and that a war is not fought only on the borders. We need to be prepared for all eventualities like for the current pandemic. We in uniform must always work in close synergy with civil administration for all health care needs. We have a robust healthcare system and in times of any emergency, have always come to the rescue of the people of India. We must continue to undertake this role with pride.

CC: The army medical fraternity has been on the war footing front since the very beginning. What are the likely challenges and plan for subsequent second and third waves likely to hit India?

We have added to our capabilities and strengthened our hospitals and our health care workers suitably. Our troops are well informed and the Armed Forces are ready to support any new challenge faced by the Nation.

(namrata.sapra@corporatecitizen.in)

Being the Chief Innovation Officer of MHRD, I speak to a lot of youngsters, including girls about their career aspirations. They are keen to get into software, have a plush job, and lead a peaceful life. They are not keen to join the Army or the Navy or the Air Force. What is your take on this? Your message to them?

Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar with her husband
Lt. Gen. Rajeev Kanitkar

Firstly, it was an old concept, abounding in stereotypical roles, gender based roles. And it was believed that if you were intelligent, you’d take up science, medicine or engineering. These are very conventional ideas. Today’s youngsters are way ahead of us. They have information and knowledge, so they have to use them to make wise decisions. And in life if they are in need of help, they should consult people, search for answers, they can find colleagues to talk to, role models to reach out to, look up things but importantly, they should know what it is that they want to do at the end of the day. Is it just to make money?

Today, if you are just a school graduate, you can still pick up something like a call centre job or a sales person and earn enough money to be comfortable. Aspiration and ambition are what is more important. It doesn’t matter whether you join corporate or become a software engineer or decide to go into fine arts. Even music or dance for that matter, if that is what your passion is. I feel the young generation is capable but it also needs guidance. I don’t think the older generation is fully equipped to advise them because you can advise on only what you know. It is for them, who are far more informed than we were to make a decision. Earlier, we could put head out of the window of the car to find the route to our destination, but today, there is Google Maps. Everyone finds the way eventually with a map. MAP can be defined as Mentor, Attitude, and Passion.

M : It is important to find your mentor. A mentor is important because you need someone to look up to, listen to and who can brainstorm with you and guide you without being judgemental.

A : The attitude that “I am very comfortable” or “I want to travel on the same beaten path”, “I don’t have a destination” does not need a map. A correct attitude is a positive one wanting to experiment, try out new things, set a goal for yourself and find it. An attitude never to give up on your dream.

P : Passion is of extreme importance. It could be anything you take up. It could even be something as simple as cleaning up your room but doing it with passion. The younger generation, I think is highly informed, all they need is to get themselves a map and they will reach their destination.

Shifting to your personal experience, recently you were posted in Udhampur, which is a hotbed for terrorist activities. Tell us about your experience there, including dealing with the locals.

Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar enjoying a game of golf

It was an amazing experience. The starting point of this experience was when I volunteered for it. I was the Dean in Armed Forces Medical College and due for a posting out. As Dean of my own Alma Mater, I thought I had the icing on the cake. I had joined the college as a student and had come back as a Dean. After this tenure, I felt no place can offer me the thrill and opportunity that it had given me. Therefore, I felt that if I went to the Northern Command I could have a fresh challenge because it is an active operational command. The first response of my seniors was that it would be a tough assignment. However, I was very keen to work for the organisation as a soldier and felt extremely honoured in doing so. Doctor, teacher and solider, I was honoured to be performing these three roles. As a doctor, I had trained in paediatric nephrology as a first and set up paediatric nephrology as a speciality and that was something which was very satisfying. Then I served as Dean in my own college, again a first for a woman, and a matter of honour for a teacher. As a soldier, even though I was proud of wearing the uniform, I often wondered “have I done enough?” So I wanted to wear combat boots and field dress. Northern Command was my calling and going there seemed to be the best opportunity.

Once in Udhampur, I got to handle everyday things that others read about in newspapers - right from a mine blast somewhere, to a gunshot injury to a soldier. There were so many things we had to look into. The job was about caring for the soldiers in the line of action on ground zero. I understood the conditions, the problems, the challenges associated with high altitude. I got an opportunity to visit the entire valley, Poonch, Naushera, Akhnoor. I came down from Udhampur to Leh-Ladakh. I visited troops there and I was impressed with two things how disciplined the soldiers are, how tough their life is, and how much as doctors, we need to do for them. Secondly, I was impressed to see our young doctors working shoulder to shoulder with soldiers. I felt my visit motivated them to do better. Whereas, the other young doctors in India were possibly just studying for PG after their MBBS, here were these young medical officers, who could write stories for the rest of their lives about how they saved lives of a soldier in the glacier or an avalanche or gunshot. They were doing real-life things. I could interact with them, motivate them. It was a thrilling experience. I was lucky to have got the great opportunity to give back to the organisation as well as learn lots of new things at the same time.

"Women’s ability to do something should not be stereotyped. The question of gender shouldn’t be coming in the way of capability. What the organisation is doing is great, it is not pushing decisions and jumping into it with eyes closed”

I want to know about your experiences in Udhampur. About any experiences that you had where you felt you would not see the next day even when you were working in the same environment of the Army.

There was never anything that serious where I felt I would not see the next day. I will tell you about an interesting incident. I had to travel to Delhi and then catch another flight to Pune for an important meeting. Udhampur is not very well connected so I had to come first by road to Jammu and then from there, I had to take a flight to Delhi. I had to take the 3:40 PM flight as it was the only one available of Air India from Jammu to Delhi. Normally it takes about 90 minutes to drive from Udhampur to Jammu. I had planned to leave by 1. At 12, I got a message that there was some mob on the main highway and it was closed, not permitting even pilot vehicles and protection vehicles. There was no way I could cross it. How do I reach Delhi, was the question that haunted me. I tried to get the Army helicopter to Jammu but it was pouring cats and dogs. In that weather, flying was not possible. There was a third option, resorting to which took one hour more and it was through the mountains. I looked at the watch. If it took three hours, I would reach by 3 and 3:40PM was the flight. At most, I would miss the flight and try and take the night train from Jammu to Delhi. It was a bad road, pelting rain but I decided to take the chance because I had to reach Delhi. At 3:15 pm, I drove into the airport and went straight into the aircraft. Where there is a will, you’re not scared or worried. You just do what you have to.

"The youth looks towards a bright future, so they have dreams and aspirations. The Army is doing very good work in J&K. I was not directly involved with the youth, but aware of some initiatives by the Army”

The psyche of the environment in J&K is a bit different than the rest of India. What can be done to inculcate and encourage a pro-India sentiment in the youth of J&K?

Youth is the same everywhere. The youth looks towards a bright future, so they have dreams and aspirations. The Army is doing very good work in J&K. I was not directly involved with the youth, but aware of some initiatives by the Armed Forces. An example of this is a scheme called ‘Sadbhavna’. Through that, we run health camps, vocational training centres for women, youth and children. The medical and veterinary camps run by the army in some of the most remote areas bring solace to many people.

There is one story I want to share. While travelling through remote areas, I went to a place in one of the field locations and met the Brigadier commanding. He said he was glad to meet me and introduced me to a medical officer. This young lady was the only woman in the entire location. She had been a huge asset having helped start a girls’ wing in the NCC of the village school. There was no Chemistry teacher in the school for six months but this medical officer volunteered to teach the subject as part of ‘Sadbhavna’. What started with chemistry went on to karate classes and NCC. The girls were motivated and they themselves started playing hockey, basketball etc. You ask any girl in the village and she says she wants to wear a uniform and become an officer like her. One lady had made the difference.

What is your message to the youth in lockdown?

My message to them is to use this time effectively to do things. Do not overlook fitness. The mantra that a fit mind resides in a fit body is correct. How you use this time is important. Practice on reflection on what do you want to do. Read a good book. Open up your mind. There is a silver lining to the lockdown grey cloud-it has given us the time to cherish, reflect and time to get fitter and stronger.