Captain Amruta Kole

First Woman Army Officer from Jain Community

-Mahavir Sanglikar

Many Jains have served the armed forces from ancient time. If you take a look at Jain history, you will find that even Jain women have worked as soldiers and Generals. One of the greatest women warriors of India was Queen Abbakka, who was a Jain.

In this new era, this tradition of joining police and armed forces by Jain women is still alive.

There is a small village called Dudhgaon, near Sangli in Maharshtra. This village is situated on the bank of river Varana. The village is known as a Jain village, as majority of the people here are Jains. 100% literacy and a great tradition of joining Maharashtra Police and Indian Armed Forces are seen here.

Amruta Kole, a Jain girl from this village joined Indian Army as 2nd Lieutenant, and now she is a Captain. She is daughter of Mr. Balasaheb Kole, a Bank Officer. Amruta joined Indian Army through Service Selection Board. Now she is working in Army Air Defense Section. This section works for defense from enemy’s attack from Air.

She was declared MT Tejswini in 2008 by Maharashtra Times, a leading Newspaper of Maharashtra. This prestigious award is offered to the women who are working in the fields other than traditional ways of career.

She wants to encourage women from rural area to Join Armed Forces.

If I am not wrong, she is the first lady from entire Jain community to become an Indian Army Officer.

Amruta’s story is inspiring for all Jains and all women.