On this #WomensDay, the United Nations is emphasizing the need to #PressForProgress. But a woman from Mumbai has been doing just that as well as changing perspectives for the last two decades.
Seema Rao, India’s first-ever and only commando trainer as well as a 7th-degree black belt holder in military martial arts, has been training the Indian Armed Forces for more than 20 years without charging for her services. Being a master in Jeet Kune Do and trained to be a firefighter and scuba-diver, she has earned the titles like ‘Wonder Woman’, ‘Iron Woman’, ‘Super Woman’ etc.
Daughter of a freedom fighter, Rao is a certified doctor in conventional medicine. Not only is she a combat shooting instructor, she was also once a Miss India World finalist.
Dr Seema Rao/ Photo: Wikipedia
How did her journey start as a trainer?
Dr Seema Rao/ Photo: Facebook
Inspired by her father’s freedom struggle stories, Seema was determined to serve the nation in whatsoever capacity. According to several reports, Seema met a senior police official a few years ago who was keen to explore Seema’s unarmed combat skills. He asked her to conduct a demo with his force and later, to train them as well.
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Seema trains for free as she believes that ‘honour and duty come above money’. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, she said,
“There was a time when I went totally bankrupt. I had to sell my jewellery and dissolve the fixed deposits in order to run the livelihood. For me, money comes after duty and honour.”
Here are some of her achievements:
- World Peace Award by World Peace Congress, Malaysia, awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia for contribution to the country in 2008
- US President’s Volunteer Service Award
- Three Army Chief Citations
- Home Minister of India Letter of Commendation in 2009 placing on record the selfless National service in the field of close quarters battle training
- A 1000 felicitations from the Indian government.
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Despite undergoing several injuries, Seema hasn’t given up on her daily routine and continues to train the forces.
