Divya Ajith Kumar
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Divya Ajith Kumar
| birth_place = Chennai, India
| allegiance = India
| branch = Corps of Army Air Defence
| branch_label =
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands =
| awards = Sword of Honour
| memorials =
| alma_mater = Stella Maris College, Chennai {{Small|(B.Com.)}}
}}
Captain Divya Ajith Kumar is an Army Air Defense (AAD) officer in the Indian Army. She graduated from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.{{Cite web|last=Nurullah|first=Abdullah|date=2016-02-26|title=She is an officer and a woman|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/She-is-an-officer-and-a-woman/articleshow/51151743.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2019-04-30|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227024821/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/She-is-an-officer-and-a-woman/articleshow/51151743.cms |archive-date=27 February 2016 }} Kumar is the first woman to be conferred by the Army with the Sword of Honour, a prize given to the best cadet.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai-cadet-creates-history-at-ota-passingout-parade/article697372.ece | title=Chennai cadet creates history at OTA passing-out parade | newspaper=The Hindu | date=19 September 2010 | accessdate=9 July 2015}} She led an all-woman contingent of 154 female officers and cadets during the Republic Day Parade in 2015.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/25-year-old-captain-divya-ajith-leads-first-all-women-contingent-in-republic-day-parade-2064151.html | title=25-year-old Captain Divya Ajith leads first all-women contingent in Republic Day parade | magazine=First Post | date=26 January 2015 | accessdate=9 July 2015}}
Early life and education
Divya Ajith Kumar was born in Chennai to a Tamil family. She is a first-generation soldier. She attended Good Shepherd Matriculation Higher Secondary School, and Stella Maris College, Chennai, where she completed her B.Com. (Hons). She joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and participated in the NCC women contingent in Rajpath. Kumar later joined, and graduated from the Officers Training Academy (OTA). Kumar was awarded the Sword of Honour prize, given to the best cadet. She was the first woman to be awarded the prize.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/110318/women-cadets-make-history.html|title=Women cadets make history|date=2018-03-11|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-04-30}}
Military career
Kumar was commissioned into Corps of Army Air Defence in September 2010. She also jointly topped the Young Officers' course of the Army Air Defence College in 2011 and was awarded the Silver Gun Trophy. Kumar led the first all-women contingent of the Army on Republic Day in 2015. She led a contingent of 126 officers and 28 cadets during the parade, where US President Barack Obama was present as the chief guest.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-saga-of-bravery-fortitude-and-committed-effort/article6976341.ece|title=A saga of bravery, fortitude and committed effort|author=Staff Reporter|date=2015-03-10|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-04-30|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/miscellaneous/women-officers-steal-the-show-at-indias-71st-army-day-here-are-all-the-moments-when-they-proudly-led-the-forces/women-soldiers-business-insider-india/slideshow/67539135.cms|title="Women power" at display|last=|first=|date=|website=Business Insider|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-04-30}} She currently teaches at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}