Dhekiajuli, Assam / New Delhi – In a proud moment for Assam and the entire Northeast, Major Dr. Dipanwita Kalita, the first female paratrooper from the state, has been featured on the cover of Femina India’s July–August 2025 Independence Day Special Edition, titled “In the Line of Duty.” The issue highlights ten trailblazing women officers of the Indian Army, celebrating their leadership, resilience, and service to the nation.
Major Kalita’s inclusion alongside other esteemed officers such as Colonel Sofia Qureshi and eight other valiant women in uniform represents a bold narrative of grit, courage, and defiance of convention, especially as India celebrates its 78th year of independence.
Breaking Barriers from Assam to the Armed Forces
A native of Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district, Major Kalita currently serves in the elite Parachute Medical Regiment of the Indian Army. Her journey into the paratrooper ranks has not just shattered gender stereotypes, but also created a path for young women across India — particularly from the Northeast — to dream bigger.
She earned her paratrooper badge in 2023 after completing rigorous airborne training in Agra, becoming the first woman from Assam to achieve the feat. In January 2025, she was promoted to the rank of Major, a testament to her capabilities and commitment to the service.
Academic Excellence to Military Honor
Major Kalita’s journey began in her hometown, where she completed her schooling at Devendra Green Grove English School and later graduated from Darrang College with distinction. She pursued MBBS from Manila, Philippines, and completed her medical internship at AIIMS, New Delhi in 2015. She served at Deen Dayal Hospital, Delhi, before being commissioned into the Indian Army in 2020 as a medical officer.
Notably, she was the first girl from Sonitpur to study abroad and return to serve in Delhi’s emergency and OBG departments before donning the uniform.
A Role Model for Generations
In her interview with Femina, Major Kalita sent out a powerful message that reflects her trailblazing spirit:
“You are not here to fit into a mould – you’re here to break out of it.”
Her recognition in a national publication during Independence Day week positions her as a symbol of inspiration for young girls, especially in rural and underserved areas, who aspire to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields like the armed forces.
State Leaders Applaud Her Feat
Assam’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ashok Singhal, also celebrated the occasion. Taking to platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“Incredibly proud to see Major Dwipannita Kalita, a daughter of Dhekiajuli and the first female paratrooper from Assam, featured on the cover of Femina India, alongside Colonel Sofia Qureshi and 8 other valiant Veeranganas of the Indian Army.”
Though the Kalita household is currently maintaining a quiet atmosphere due to the recent surgery of her mother, Parbati Kalita, the sense of pride in Dhekiajuli is unmistakable.
A New Face of the Indian Army
As India’s armed forces evolve to become more inclusive, stories like Major Kalita’s highlight the emerging role of women leaders in defence, especially from regions like the Northeast that have long been underrepresented in such narratives.
From Assam to Agra, from medicine to military, Major Dipanwita Kalita’s journey stands as a beacon of resilience, discipline, and unwavering courage.
