They are young, they are spirited and ready to make history on the soil of West Bengal. They are the first contingent of women Border Security Force (BSF) to man the South Bengal Frontier border from November.

Salma Parvin (21) belongs to a small village in Murshidabad but her dreams stretch to the horizons. Her father Alfaz Uddin Sheikh (52) wanted his only daughter to be a school teacher like him and then get married. Salma, a die hard fan of patriotic movies, had a dream to dedicate her life to the nation though. Today, she is a part of the 32-member women BSF contingent.

“I cannot wait to be at the border. From childhood I wanted to be in the force. I was in my second year of graduation last year when I learnt that the BSF was inducting women in combat force. Many from my village said a woman would not be able to make it. But I did it,” said Salma.

Piyali Nandi (21) did not have her way easy. For months she tried to convince her farmer father Anandamoy Nandi and mother Malati Nandi that joining force would not ruin her life.

“My parents said I should not take this profession since I was a woman. But how could I let my gender prevent me from achieving that I have always been longing for? After months of rigorous training, I stand strong and proud,” said Piyali.

The girls, mostly in their early twenties, with a dream to serve their country are from districts across the state —- Bankura, Murshidabad, Malda, Hooghly, Nadia, Joka, Barasat — and Kolkata.

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