India Honors Peacekeepers, Major Barak Wins UN Award

Major Abhilasha Barak, India's first woman combat helicopter pilot, just earned one of the United Nations' highest honors for her work empowering women and girls in Lebanon.

India and Austria co-hosted a ceremony in New York on International Day of UN Peacekeepers, honoring the more than 4,000 brave souls who have given their lives for global peace since 1948. The event paid special tribute to two Indian peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice: Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan in South Sudan.

"Blue Helmets continue to be the face of the UN in crisis spots in different parts of the world," said Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, India's Permanent Representative to the UN. His words captured India's remarkable commitment to international peace, spanning more than seven decades.

The numbers tell an inspiring story. Since 1948, India has deployed nearly 300,000 troops across more than 50 UN peacekeeping missions. Today, the country stands as the second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel, with over 4,200 military and police members serving in nine conflict zones from the Central African Republic to Western Sahara.

Major Barak leads the Female Engagement Team in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, where her outreach work has created meaningful connections with local women and girls. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will present her the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year award at a June 5 ceremony in New York.

She joins an elite group. Major Suman Gawani received the same award in 2019 for her work in South Sudan, while Major Radhika Sen earned it in 2023 for her service in Congo. All three women broke barriers while bringing hope to communities torn apart by conflict.

The Ripple Effect

India's peacekeeping legacy extends far beyond military presence. The country's 155 women peacekeepers are changing how the UN engages with vulnerable populations in war zones. When women peacekeepers connect with local communities, they create safe spaces for dialogue that male soldiers often cannot.

These connections matter deeply in places where conflict has shattered trust. Female peacekeepers like Major Barak build bridges with women and girls who might otherwise remain isolated, helping them access resources, report abuse, and participate in peacebuilding efforts.

Ambassador Parvathaneni summed up India's approach perfectly: "India has an unflinching commitment to UN Peacekeeping and it will continue its efforts towards this noble goal." That commitment has cost India dearly, with over 180 peacekeepers lost in service, the highest toll of any contributing nation.

Yet the work continues, driven by a vision of a more peaceful world where dialogue replaces destruction and understanding overcomes hatred.