Dehradun, June 14 -- When the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark order in August 2021 allowing eligible women to appear for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance examination, Shriti Daksh was pursuing B.Com (Hons) at DelhiUniversity's prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). Five years later, Daksh is among the first nine women cadets to pass out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), becoming part of a historic chapter in the country's military history. "I was pursuing B.Com (Hons) from SRCC when I came to know about the historic Supreme Court decision that opened NDA's doors for girls. I took the opportunity because I wanted to join the armed forces from the outset. I was inspired by my father and was familiar with the nitty-gritties of military life. I filled out the form, appeared for the examination and got through," she said. Daksh comes from a family deeply rooted in the armed forces. Her father, Wing Commander (retd) Yogesh Kumar Daksh, is a former Air Force pilot and currently works as a private pilot. Her elder sister Kriti is a Flying Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force, while her mother, Anju, is a teacher. On the significance of women graduating from IMA, Daksh said she hopes her journey inspires future generations. "I wanted to lead the path for my junior cadets. They can look up to my achievements. There is nothing that women can't achieve. Grit has no gender. It just requires grit and determination," she said. Another woman cadet, 22-year-old Shanan Dhaka, who originally belongs to Rohtak in Haryana, said she drew inspiration from generations of soldiers in her family. "My grandfather, Chanderbhan Dhaka, served as a Subedar, while my father, Vijay Kumar Dhaka, retired as a Naib Subedar. Growing up in that environment naturally inspired me," she said. "There was always an Army environment in the family, so joining the forces felt very natural. It was never a career choice, but rather a way of life," she said. Dhaka studied at ArmyPublic Schools in Roorkee, Jaipur and Chandimandir in Panchkula....