Major General Lisamma P.V. and the Quiet Strength of India’s Military Nurses

In a historic and empowering stride for both Kerala and the Indian Armed Forces, Major General Lisamma P.V. from Kollam has been appointed as the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) - the highest leadership position in India’s all-women corps of military nurses. With nearly 4 decades of dedicated service behind her, she took charge on April 30, 2025. Commissioned into MNS in 1986, Lisamma’s journey is rooted in academic excellence, with degrees in Arts, Law, and a Master’s in Hospital Administration. An alumna of Assumption College, Kerala and School of Nursing at Military Hospital, Jalandhar, she has exemplified discipline, and empathy, values that continue to define her leadership in India’s defense framework.Courage in Combat: Her Battles, Her BrillianceFrom serving as Principal Matron at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, one of the top tertiary care military hospitals to leading academic transformation as Principal at nursing colleges in Bangalore and Pune, her career reflects a steadfast commitment to healthcare excellence in the armed forces. She has also guided medical response strategies during tense border conflicts and contributed to shaping the medical ecosystem in military hospitals during global health crises. Decorated with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card, she represents the brilliance of women in uniform who often remain unsung.The Unsung Warriors: Women in the Military Nursing Service The Indian Military Nursing Service, established in 1888, has been an all-women corps, fiercely defending the nation with courage. While soldiers hold guns at the borders, military nurses hold lives together on the operating tables, in rehabilitation wards, and during emergencies in conflict zones. Over the years, MNS nurses have served in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, African nations, and all along India’s conflict-torn borders. These women, often the first to arrive and last to leave, offer critical support during war, natural disasters, and pandemics. Despite the Delhi High Court’s ruling in 2023 opening up nursing roles for men in the military, the legacy of the MNS stands tall as a bastion of empowered women who have shaped India’s military history. Fierce, Feminine, and Forward: The Legacy of MNS Continues! In a country where women continue to fight for equal spaces and recognition,  Major General Lisamma's story is a clarion call, that courage is not gendered, and that leadership can also mean wearing a nurse’s uniform and walking softly through ICU corridors. With nearly 40 years of service, she stands tall for Kerala and for every Indian woman who dares to dream beyond boundaries. As she now leads the MNS into a new era, her focus on evidence-based practice, research, and systemic improvement is expected to set new benchmarks in military healthcare. Fierce yet nurturing Major General Lisamma P.V. carries the torch of a legacy forged in sacrifice and sisterhood. 

A True Soldier's Resolve: Major Sita Shelke's Heroic Leadership in Kerala

The pictures of Major Sita Ashok Shelke has been receiving a lot of attention. The seventy male members of the Bengaluru-based Madras Engineering Group of the Army were commanded by the commander officer. Her images, taken in the landslide-affected Chooralmala hamlet of Kerala's Wayanad, standing tall on the railings of the recently built Bailey Bridge, have demonstrated her bravery and dedication throughout the rescue effort. In just 31 hours, Major Shelke and her crew accomplished the amazing accomplishment of building the bridge, despite several challenges including inclement weather, uprooted trees, and a quickly moving river. Major Shelke, who is from Gadilgaon Village in Ahmed Nagar, Maharashtra, is in charge of the MEG unit, which provides support to the Army in times of conflict and natural calamities such as the 2018 Kerala floods. (Source: Google Images)Major Shelke and her group put in a lot of overtime to rescue a lot of lives and quickly retrieve the bodies of the deceased~  Thus far, landslides caused by intense rainfall in Wayanad's hilly regions have claimed the lives of 308 individuals. The lack of necessary equipment, the hazardous terrain, and the damaged roads and bridges caused almost 200 injuries. Major Sita Ashok Shelke gives credit to the entire unit for the bridge's successful completion. She stated, "I must express my gratitude to all the local authorities, state officials, and everyone who has helped us from different places," in an interview with PTI. With special appreciation to state leaders, villagers, and local residents. The prompt and effective actions of Major Shelke and her crew represent true heroism in a time of crisis ~  (Source: Google Images)I don't consider myself only as a woman; I am a soldierTheir unwavering dedication to overcoming challenging circumstances is an inspiration to people all across the world. Shelke has also demonstrated that she is a true leader in every regard. She freely acknowledged that she was not prepared to confine herself to gender norms and that she had been operating at the landslide site on the same terms as her male coworkers. "I don't consider myself only as a woman; I am a soldier," the commander said to PTI. I am extremely proud to be a member of this launch team and am here as a representative of the Indian Army.