In this interview with NDTV, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Puja Thakur graciously answers questions about leading the guard of honor that received US President Obama last week at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This very short video is worth watching for a number of reasons.

1) Thakur was clearly unfazed by the event, and did not overstate her role despite its historic nature, while acknowledging the honor.

2) She is a well-spoken, smart and proud military officer who will no doubt inspire girls and women to join the armed forces.

3) In a nation where gang rapes dominate the headlines and women are marginalized on a daily basis, it is important to note the Indian society’s success stories in empowering women.

4) It was also a brilliant PR move on India’s part.  Thakur was very much noticed by the American president, who called her presence one of the highlights of his India trip.

Enjoy the video, and whatever your background may be, you may find inspiration in the possibilities for women in the new India, where a sexual revolution is very actively under way right now.  How very fitting that this major first took place in front of the United States president.

Mahanth S. Joishy is Editor of usindiamonitor