Human and canine daredevils of SSB celebrate their 53rd Anniversary Day

The daredevils of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) who showcased their stunts and manoeuvres on motorbikes on the 53rd Anniversary Day of the SSB were no less than professional stunt-bikers. Riding a bike with five others in complicated positions might look like a dangerous stunt to the spectators, but for the SSB lady officers, it was just a ‘matter-of-practice’. Tapti Ray and Sarbani Roy, who are posted in Assam and are part of the SSB Daredevils group, told us that before learning the stunts, they didn’t even know how to ride a bike.
Sarbani said, “I had never ridden a bike before.It takes lots of training. There were some initial hiccups, but soon, I got used to it.”
An SSB canine soldier presents a flower basket to home minister Rajnath Singh, seen here with Archana Ramasundaram, DG, SSB (L) on the stage (BCCL)
For stunts, fitness matters, not gender: SSB Daredevils in-charge
When we spoke to Anil Kumar Nehra, deputy commandant, SSB, who is also the Daredevils officer-in-charge, about the women bikers’ stunts, he said what matters is fitness, not gender. He said, "It’s not an adrenaline-filled approach. Speed is important, of course, but so is skill. For example, for the fire ring stunt, we don’t see the fire ring, we see the road, we focus on the bike and we balance with our feet. We cross the fire ring in a fraction of a second, so the fire is not important, it’s just an obstacle. Calculation is important. Losing focus and confidence could result in disaster. And when you are performing on Anniversary Day, being the second best is not an option! Rajpath is a dream for which we have to work."
Indian air buds: The dog squad of the SSB shows off its sporty side with a basket ball match (BCCL)
Doggie basketball!
Normally, you’d question the ability of your four-legged friends when it comes to, err, basketball. Not so here. The SSB dogs proved that they are as good at shooting baskets as they are at catching terrorists. The dog squad played a basketball match after the parade. They were divided into two teams – the Labradors versus the Golden Retrievers. Both teams were trained to follow a pattern – once the trainer threw the ball, the dog bounced it on its nose first, then picked it up and aimed for a basket. The labradors gave a tough fight, but the Golden Retrievers emerged the stars.
We never let go! SSB officers also demonstrated the dog squad’s terrorist-nabbing skills (BCCL)
Archana Ramasundaram, director general of the SSB, and the first woman to head a paramilitary force, said, "We are working to increase the number of women in the SSB, and it is my duty to ensure that there is no discrimination against women in the force."
Surjeet Singh, additional director general, SSB (L) and a stunt performed by an SSB Daredevils (BCCL)
Home minister Rajnath Singh, the chief guest at the event, said, "There should be gender-friendly infrastructure at the border posts where women are deployed and more facilities should be provided."