Born in a small village in Haryana, Ritu’s childhood was spent in the realm of her parents and grandfather. However, from the beginning of her childhood, she was told not to speak loudly and that her future is only marriage. Even her parents faced harsh criticism from relatives and villagers for spending money on her education and not saving it up for her wedding.
A woman’s life is full of hurdles from the moment she is born. Since time immemorial, women have been looked down upon as the second gender and their roles have been pre-decided without asking what their choice is. But not every girl is the same. Some are fearless and so determined in their aim that nothing can stop them from achieving their dreams. Ex-Captain Ritu Kumar Singh is one such example who defied all the norms and paved her own way.
Born in a small village in Haryana, Ritu’s childhood was spent in the realm of her parents and grandfather. However, from the beginning of her childhood, she was told not to speak loudly and that her future is only marriage. Even her parents faced harsh criticism from relatives and villagers for spending money on her education and not saving it up for her wedding.
But Ritu did not let any obstacle come her way in her dreams. Fortunately, she was brought up under the big umbrella of her grandfather who was an extremely progressive man and liberal in his outlook. She vividly remembers the mantra that her grandfather once told her- “Being a victim or a warrior is a choice”. Ritu’s life was distinctly different from other girls in the village. She was taught life skills and she was given equal opportunity as her brothers in her household.
Even after being mocked and bullied for her language, dressing sense, and her complexion, she did not move from her aim. She was so determined in her path, that she conquered all hindrances in her path, and surprising everyone she became the first-ever army officer in the Indian Army in her village. Wearing proudly her uniform, she showed that at the end of the day, your gender does not define you. Your merit, dedication, and courage are the pillars of your success.
Her life at the training academy taught her the biggest life lessons. From being a girl who could not even run 100 meters without losing her breath, Ritu was able to run 20 km a day with added weight on her shoulders. The hardcore training only led her to believe that the human mind is extremely powerful and that when you train your mind the right way, you become bold and brave.
A new challenge came to Ritu’s life when she embraced motherhood. She was struggling with weight issues and post-partum depression and her world was shattering in front of her. After her release from the Indian Army in 2016, she started taking care of her health and made fitness an integral part of her life.
Today, Ritu is a Certified Fitness Trainer and runs her non-judgmental platform called “Fit Moms Fitter Homes” where she ensures that every mother is able to handle their pregnancy and post-natal period in a healthier way. With her passion and enthusiasm, she has empowered more than 1000 women and helped them become fit both mentally and physically.
She fought with great courage against the deadly Covid and once again overcame all her physical illness. A true fighter in her own way, Ritu showed that with faith and courage, everyone will be able to tackle even the hardest impediment in their life. Ritu certainly did not become the victim of her circumstances, rather she is a successful warrior and an inspiration in her life.