Swimming against tide is not everybody’s forte. It requires grit, determination and perserverance to take on the challenge. There is nothing unusual these days if one sees a woman cop managing traffic at a busy chowk or women performing roles reserved for men only.
But for a woman landing in an unchartered territory, about which little is known, certainly evokes whispers here and there.
Having desire to do something different since her childhood, Akshita Sharma accepted to guard the nation by voluntarily opting the service of Coast Guard – a career where you can have the satisfaction of being involved in the Nation’s defence and meeting the challenges at sea.
Presently she is posted on her first appointment as Assistant Commandant in Odisha. She hails from Janipur area of Jammu city. She has the distinction of being First Woman Officer from Jammu city in Indian Coast Guard Organization.
She did her schooling from MHAC , Nagbani school and then completed the studies of Electrical Engineering from MIET, Kot Bhalwal. In a tete-e-tete with Excelsior Correspondent, Akshita Sharma reveals her first hand exposure of working in this organization.
Q. What made you choose this career?
A. I was like other homely girls who never stepped out of home since birth, remained in secure custody of parents but always had a passion to be independent to prove my worth and do something for the nation, my parents and my city.
Q. Who has been the driving force for taking this challenging profession?
A. Being the junior most among the three children of a J&K Bank Officer, my parents guided me through my every step and stood like a supporting wall at all times.
Q. How can you describe the career in Coast Guard?
A. You could be just the person for this challenging sea-going career if you are intelligent and bold and can think with originality and possess leadership qualities. Service in Coast Guard is not merely an employment, the life of a Coast Guard Officer is a happy mix of many things like hardwork, professionalism, risk and adventure and the opportunity to move around and visit different places within India and abroad. However, it may be said here that women are recruited in Coast Guard only as Officers in General Duty.The selection process for women is similar to that of male candidates. The women officers are posted in non-sea going appointments.
Q. Have you any word for girls of Jammu City?
A. I want to tell my city girls that there is nothing which today’s girls can’t do and we, girls from Jammu (J&K) are at par or better than any girl hailing from any metro city. I am in front line of India’s security at East Coast and committed 24*7 for Nation’s safety.
Q. Was it your aim to join the Coast Guard? If so then how much time you had spent in preparations?
A. Since my naïve days, I had aspired to become an independent person. Selection in Coast Guard is a five day process in which they look for certain inbuilt traits in an individual like leadership, honesty, focus, communication skills etc. No such preparation was for Coast Guard but I aimed to be on my feet.
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