Bengaluru: An autorickshaw driver’s daughter from Bengaluru will on Monday have the rare honour of saluting President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, on Rajpath during the Republic Day parade.

Sub-Lieutenant Hema S, daughter of G Sudhakar Babu (60) and Komala J (58), a typist at Karnataka Milk Federation, will be part of the Navy’s first-ever all-woman marching contingent.

Hema remembers her father eagerly listening to the Republic Day parade commentary on the radio. But come January 26, Babu and Komala will be glued to the television set to witness their daughter marching along with 143 other women officers to the tune of “Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja”–the marching tune of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army.

Hema’s journey, however, was not easy. Though she was good at academics, scoring more than 90 per cent in her board exams, funding her engineering course proved to be a daunting task.

While her parents could arrange half the tuition fees, Hema worked in “McDonalds” and “Reliance Fresh” and also sold sketches to earn that extra bit. The struggle paid off. She graduated in 2013 and landed a job with IT?major Tata Consultancy Services.

Within months, she cleared the Short Service Commission entrance examinations and joined the Navy. The training began in June and she received her stripes in November.

“My father wanted me to take up a government job and thought of getting me married. One of my friends is a Navy pilot, who encouraged me to join the service,” Hema told Deccan Herald.

The practice drill in Delhi at 3 am was a freezing experience, but the contingent under the leadership of Lt Cdr Priya Jeykumar took it in their stride and practised hard, chin up. “It will be a proud day for all of us,” said Hema.

Though Komala and Babu have seen harsh days in the past, their modest home at Marenahalli is now frequented by friends and family members ever since Hema made it to the marching contingent.

“Seeing me on Rajpath will be the happiest moment for my parents who could not make it to Delhi,” she said.

After passing out from the Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Hema joined the INS Valsura in Jamnagar, where she received training in electrical, electronic and weapon technologies.

Subsequently, she joined the logistics training establishment at the INS Humla, Mumbai, for further training as observer in maritime surveillance aircraft.

For the first time, the Army, Air Force and Navy will be fielding an all-woman marching contingent at the parade.