PVLF 2025

Interview with Ankita Srivastava, Author of “No Woman’s Land”

From the first female officer in Allahabad to a memoirist and beauty pageant winner, Ankita Srivastava's journey is a testament to courage, resilience, and breaking barriers.
on Aug 19, 2024

Ankita Srivastava ( veteran Army officer ) earned the fame of becoming the First girl from Allahabad to join Indian Army as an officer in 1993 and during her training her passion of writing led her to become the first lady cadet editor of OTA journal.

She was the First Lady officer to get posted in CI Ops ( Counter Insurgency-a very hard area in the far east ) during Kargil war .

She served in uniform for 14 years which includes being part of the logistics team that lent support to the fighting arms during op Kargil and op parakram. .

Post hanging her military boots, she walked beauty pageants ramp and won Tanishq Big Memsaab Allahabad 2008.

Next she won the Most Vivacious sub award at Gladrags Mrs India 2009 .

Frontlist: Your journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming Allahabad’s first girl to join the Indian Army is remarkable. Can you share some pivotal moments or challenges you faced along the way that shaped your determination to pursue this path?

Ankita: Thanks to some of those young boisterous powerpuff Allahabadi Eve teasers/roadside Romeos, whomever I came across during college time that made me both scared and rebellious at the same time. Because of them, I watched a Doordarshan serial titled Udaan, and I mentally resonated with the power of uniform. The role of fiery, fierce, authoritative IPS Kalyani Singh, essayed by the humble Kavita Choudhry, made me conclude that if ever I look impactful in any attire, it will be the military uniform only. So all those miniature rowdy roadies who have now grown up into super adults or senior citizens can pat their backs for this success of mine, but please don’t go in a state of shock when now you have come to know that I was all along conspiring against you behind your misbehaved back.

Frontlist: Your memoir, "No Woman’s Land," is a story of courage and perseverance narrated in a humorous style. How did you find the balance between narrating serious, impactful experiences and incorporating humor into your storytelling?

Ankita: I was put in the best English-medium convent school, which had miniature versions of strict Army Commanders in the form of my teachers/nuns. Together, my strict dad and the nuns made me drink so much discipline that the only antidote to it was some liquid humour that I drank secretly.

Liquids after all are easily digestible and when spewed; it goes up in the form of vapors so no one gets offended by my hidden seriousness.

Frontlist: Being the first lady officer posted in a counter insurgency area is a significant achievement. How did your experiences in these challenging environments influence your perspective on gender roles within the armed forces?

Ankita: There is no difference between the two genders. Both gentlemen officers and lady officers are trained to handle tough situations without complaining and both genders do full justice to it. However, an additional emotional touch comes in while dealing with the issues of soldiers that relate to their family issues. However, back on the ground dealing with soldiers for OP preparedness is the same as male officers dealing with them. Army is not about gender; it’s about accepting the orders of the seniors.

Frontlist: Winning titles like Tanishq Big Memsaab 2008 and Gladrags Mrs India 2009 is quite remarkable. What motivated you to participate in beauty pageants after your military career, and how did these experiences contribute to your personal growth?

Ankita: Being amongst men in uniform for 14 years where nothing was feminine, I kind of aped every mannerism that was non feminine. This was not done as a conscious effort, but on a subconscious level, I was doing it, and I came to know about it only when I hung my military boots. So, after leaving the army, I felt a difference in my gait, understanding of feminine attires, footwear, and even the tone of my voice, and all this made me now super conscious that I am all the time behaving like an officer and not fitting in the feminine format. I now wanted to learn to flaunt my feminine side. But at the age of 39, I did not know who would teach me how to unearth my submerged feminine ways, so the best platform I could zero down was a national beauty pageant. Plus, when I was sitting at home staring at my shoes that had been shifted to my servant quarter, I realized I needed some 180-degree opposite task to do, which would keep up my sagging morale. And having no idea about fashion, beauty, makeup, and heels, I volunteered to dive into this new world!

Frontlist: You've authored six books and contributed to eighteen anthologies. How has your writing evolved over time, and what themes do you find yourself drawn to the most?

Ankita: My soft, creative side was always under camouflage as at that time when I was not allowed to voice my opinion, I started pouring my heart on paper in my teens. I used to fly and go sit inside some invisible nest up on a big tree; obviously oblivious of the real world around me. Over a period of time I realised the best way to calm your anxious mind or a heart that has been hurt is to seek solace in writing. It feels therapeutic, and sometimes it feels like a freedom or wild abandonment. God has been extremely kind in blessing me with the power of expression through my pen on almost any topic that I am given to write except for maybe horror and crime. In an era where humans love to pull people down / make fun of others, I am just the different kind - drawn to tell stories about how I create chaos, havoc, and ruckus, which leads to hilarious situations.

Frontlist: Your memoir is titled "No Woman’s Land," suggesting a space where women are breaking barriers. What message do you hope readers, particularly young women aspiring to unconventional careers, take away from your story?

Ankita: No Woman’s Land is a unique title that I created to depict my life journey, which had very new and different kinds of reverse gear moments that were constantly converted into fifth gear moments by God’s blessings. Also, the book has many FIRST moments of my life, which made me think of sewing them together under a title that can give a glimpse of such vibrancy.

I strongly feel responsible towards my readers, so I want them to borrow some life tactics from my life. I knew they would only pick the book if I gave it a unique, eye-catching title.

After reading No Woman’s Land, each of my readers will become a stronger version of themselves. They will resonate with each page and learn to leap mountains like a tiger, crawl like a snake, or fly like an eagle.

Yes, it will motivate each young reader to step into my shoes to taste the feel of hope and hard work.

Frontlist: As Independence Day approaches, why do you believe it's important to keep telling stories about India's freedom fighters?

Ankita: So that we never ever take our freedom for granted, and we continue showing gratitude towards the freedom fighters who fought and sacrificed their lives for our better future.