Staying weak is not the answer

The story of an underdog coming out on top is always inspiring. Dreaming impossible dreams and then going all out out to fulfill them and in the process setting and achieving more goals, is what makes the underdog a true hero. Something similar happened with Dr Seema Rao, who has been christened as ‘India’s first and only female commando trainer’. “In my student years, I was weak and bullied. I always wanted to be strong physically and there was a very strong desire to change myself. But I didn’t know how,” says Dr Rao, who supported Sony BBC Earth’s special line-up on Women’s Day. 

TRYST WITH FITNESS
One school episode made her resolve stronger. “One day in school, a few girls in my class burst some crackers, and everybody started scampering around. One girl’s uniform caught fire and she had to be hospitalised. Later, we were questioned as to who lit the firecrackers. No one answered. But I thought it was not right and pointed out the girls. They were not allowed to attend school for a few days. When they rejoined, it was closer to examinations. I was the last person to leave the class. Those four girls caught hold of me in the corridor and snatched my bag. Two girls held me back and the other two opened my bag, tore out pages from journals. I stood there in utter disbelief and I couldn’t do a thing. I still remember feeling so helpless. This one incident prodded me to change,” she reminisces.

It was in medical college that Dr Rao was able to put her plan into action. Her future husband, Major Deepak Rao was also a medical student. He was doing martial arts and Dr Rao realised that this was the way she could train her mind and body. “We got married and then I started doing various things. I got my black belt in taekwondo, I did scuba diving because I was afraid of water. I did body building because I wanted to make my body strong. I was interested in shooting so I joined a shooting club,” she says. 

TRAINING THE INDIAN FORCES
The duo’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed and they were requested by the Indian government authorities to train the forces. Says the 50-year-old, “We got into this by destiny and not by design. One senior police official happened to see us doing unarmed combat and was impressed. He requested us to train the police force. Then, we got a request from the National Security Guard to train the commandos. First, we did unarmed combat demonstration, then training them and finally shooting demonstration. That’s how it all began.” 

Dr Rao’s forte is close quarter battle, when the enemy is within 30 yards. “If you have a weapon, you have to shoot. In case, the bullets are over, then it has to be hand to hand combat, or putting the bayonet of your weapon on him, striking in the vital areas of his body,” she says.

Dr Rao also believes in earning the respect of the men she trains. And, that means she has to keep herself “supremely fit”. “I have to take care of my diet, keep training and keep skilled. If I am teaching shooting skills, then I have to pick up a weapon and show my shooting prowess on the shooting range. I have to be able to prove my skills and capabilities and that’s how I earn the respect of the men,” she adds. 

INSPIRING WOMEN
The husband-wife training for the Indian forces was a selfless service. Often they were travelling for almost eight months a year, training different units. So money was a little difficult to come by. “My father was a freedom fighter and the patriotic sentiments were imbibed in me pretty early. When we got a chance to train the forces for no compensation, we had no complaints. We were glad to do our two bit for the country. But we also realised that we can’t keep on selling our gold, we had to do something else to survive. I then developed a DARE programme (Defence Against Rape and Eve Teasing) for the women corporates.  

“I thought if women have to be empowered, then we have to do something about their physical and mental strength. The DARE programme equips you to build your physical and mental strength. It all starts from the first look that a man exchanges with a woman. If you stare too hard, then you might elicit an aggressive response from him. If you move your eyes away, then you encourage him to take the next step. The DARE programme tells you how, step-by-step he gets closer and more confident and then finally enters into your personal space. The DARE programme tells you what you must do — one of the best things is to run if you are in real trouble. You can use bluff if you are in a mess. If nothing works, then you have to fight back,” she explains 

Of late, Dr Rao is also invited to deliver motivational lectures. “If I am called to speak at a college, then the college crowd is very interested in knowing how they can become strong. When women, who are interested in joining the forces, have questions for me, I tell them, ‘ Yes, you must join. You must join as an army officer and do your bit for the nation’. The goals vary for different institutions,” she says, emphasising, “I am a civilian who is training the Indian forces.” 

PENNING BOOKS
Dr Rao has written seven books, which she has gifted to Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs. These are all stocked in the libraries only for the use of the forces. “My books are also stocked in the libraries of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, USA), Interpol and Special Weapons and Techniques (SWAT, USA). I have got Letters of Appreciation from them. I am very proud that an Indian book has been stocked in the libraries of forces abroad. I am in the process of writing one more book,” says Dr Rao, who reads a lot of Zen philosophy.