Sainik schools form an important part of the educational system in the country. These institutes, established by the Ministry of Defence, provide mental and physical training to students who wish to join the National Defense Academy (NDA). Now, one such school in Uttar Pradesh has achieved a special feat.
She will now command the Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School in Lucknow as an officer. Colonel Seema Mishra is the first woman in the institute’s 65-year history to hold the position of director. Interestingly, the institute was also the first institute in the country to admit female students. The policy began in 2018, starting with 15 students.
Colonel Seema Mishra, an Army Education Corps (AEC) officer, took charge from Colonel Rajesh Raghav, who began his tenure as Director in January 2021. Resuming her new post, Colonel Mishra laid wreaths at the War Memorial. She also addressed the students and employees in the hall and interacted with the graduates.
Colonel Mishra was commissioned to join the Army Education Corps in 2003. With over 22 years of service, her dedication to service has earned her the Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card. Colonel Mishra holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics, a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Education.
Before joining the Sainik School in Lucknow, Colonel Mishra was the first woman officer to be posted as the Administrative Officer at the Rashtriya Military School in Belgaum. She was also the vice-principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala, and an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
She is the wife of martyr Major Nitish Roy, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, the Economic Times reported. Major Roy was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Colonel Mishra will serve at Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School for a deputation period of two years.
Her appointment was approved following a letter issued by the Ministry of Defence’s Sainik School Association. The Uttar Pradesh government has completed the process. She then issued the official order on December 3 through Additional Chief Secretary (Basic and Secondary Education) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma.
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Colonel Mishra said she was committed to continuing the good work done by Colonel Raghav. She also listed her priorities and expressed her hope to see students and staff reach greater heights in the coming years. One of her first assignments was to interview the governor with the school band. The marching unit and eight students, including two girls, who passed the NDA examinations, will be part of the delegation meeting the governor.
“My only goal is to send as many students as possible to the National Defense Academy,” she said. “I will try to ensure that more boys and girls qualify for the National Defense Academy.” Colonel Mishra also admitted that her new assignment was challenging and she hopes to achieve it to the best of her potential.
“Leading the country’s first Sainik school, with its rich heritage, will be a challenging responsibility. As the school’s first principal, I know people will view my work through this lens,” she added. For Colonel Mishra, taking the institute back to its former glory is of utmost importance.
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey Uttar Pradesh Sainik School was founded in 1960 by Dr. Sampurnand, the then Chief Minister of the state. Her band bagged the Best School Marching Band award during the Republic Day parade in Lucknow this year. The institute’s marching band ranked third among all participants.
