From A Water Phobic To The Navy
Northeast Today|December 2017

Born and brought up in Manipur, Lt. Shougrakpham Vijaya Devi had a fascination of naval uniform since childhood. She is now one of the five members of the first women crew to circumnavigate the world from the Indian Navy. A post graduate from the University of Delhi in English Literature, she narrates how she landed up in the Indian Navy to Northeast Today.

Kingson Chingakham
From A Water Phobic To The Navy

NET: Tell us how you landed in the Indian Navy?

Lt. Vijaya: I never thought that I will join the navy. After my post-graduation in English literature, I was pursuing my B.Ed. and came across the advertisement to join the Indian Navy. A post-graduation in English was necessary. So I applied for it without giving a second thought of getting selected or not. My mom was worried when I told her that I had to travel alone to Bhopal for Services Selection Board interview. I followed my instinct after giving all reasoning to my mom’s doubt. Fortunately, I cleared all the procedures and here I am today.

NET: How do you feel to be a part of India’s first ever all woman crew to circumnavigate the world?

Lt. Vijaya: Being in the team of all women crew to circumnavigate the globe is a wonderful feeling. In the navy, women officers are never deployed at sea, as of now. It is for the first time ever in the world history that a team of women officers from any navy is venturing for circumnavigation; otherwise there are lots of women sailors who sail in the ocean around the world.

NET: On what basis was the selection done?

This story is from the December 2017 edition of Northeast Today.

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This story is from the December 2017 edition of Northeast Today.

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