New Delhi, 30 July (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday honoured nine women officers from the three armed forces who returned home after completing a historic voyage across four oceans aboard the Indian Army’s sailing vessel IASV Triveni. During the felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, the Defence Minister praised the courage and determination of the team, which covered nearly 25,500 nautical miles over a period of 314 days.

Rajnath Singh described the ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition as a testament to women’s empowerment and an outstanding example of coordination among the three armed forces. He said the achievement would inspire every Indian.

The women officers shared their experiences with the Defence Minister and said that challenging weather conditions during the expedition made their journey more memorable and rewarding. They said their determination to make the nation proud motivated them to overcome immense physical and mental challenges. Rajnath Singh said their success demonstrates how strong belief and unwavering determination can help individuals achieve any goal in life.

Describing the capability and confidence of the women officers as remarkable, Rajnath Singh said the successful completion of ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ has broken outdated perceptions that women cannot undertake challenging military missions. He told the officers that they had proved that physical ability, mental strength and leadership qualities are not defined by gender.

“Every daughter of India can look up to you and believe that she too can cross oceans and conquer the world,” he said, adding that the expedition proved that no goal is impossible when people move forward together.

Chief of Army Staff General Dheeraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar and other senior officers of the three services were present during the interaction.

The team of IASV Triveni was virtually flagged off by the Defence Minister from Mumbai on July 22, 2026. He had also participated in the flag-off ceremony through video conferencing on September 11, 2025. Apart from its remarkable maritime achievement, the ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition also served as a powerful instrument of military diplomacy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar