Over 1,50,000 people gathered at Rajpath to celebrate India’s 70th Republic Day on Saturday. With this year being Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, facets from his life loomed large over the parade, but the nation - and chief guest Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa - also saw once again India’s military might and cultural diversity. The parade, led by Lt-General Asit Mistry, GoC, Delhi area, began at 10.15 am, cheered on by foreign dignitaries and the pantheon of Indian politics, from former prime ministers to cabinet ministers and leaders such as Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wearing yellow and orange safa arrived at Rajpath in usual fervour. He and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman greeted the chief guest and President Ram Nath Kovind. Modi also walked up to and greeted former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Ashok Chakra was to awarded to lance naik Nazir Ahmed Wani posthumously and was collected by his wife and mother. There were moist eyes among the family members as well as the crowd as the citation was read out to honour the former militant and later a soldier from Kashmir who died fighting terrorists in his home state of Kashmir.
The parade began then, and as has become a new tradition, the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force contingents were all led by women. Woman power was later accentuated in a show of daredevil stunts by a woman biker from the Corp of Signals. Lines from Rabindranath Tagore’s poems found mention in the parade commentary focused on empowerment of youth and women. With the strength of the armed forces on show, it was perhaps the opportune moment to showcase the newly inducted M777 howitzers and the K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers.
The colourful tableaux from 16 states showcased culture and life in India. The ones related to Gandhi, particular the one created by the railways ministry, were well appreciated. People were seen standing on their seats to cheer and clap as the railways tableau went past. It was dedicated to the journey from barrister Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
The parade culminated with the Indian Air Force flypast, comprising upgraded aircraft in the traditional vertical Charlie and trishul formations. After the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as usual, strode along Rajpath greeting the children and youngsters lined up along the barricades and waving out to the others.
Women marchers, biofuel aircraft steal the show
From the all-women marching contingent of Assam Rifles to the use of biofuel in the aircraft participating in the flypast, the 70th Republic Day had a number of firsts. One first that touched the hearts of the crowd was the sight of Indian National Army soldiers, the wizened veterans never having been seen on Rajpath earlier. Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi broke traditions by becoming the first woman to lead a male army contingent, that of the Army Service Corp. This was followed by the all-women contingent of the Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in the country, led by Major Khusboo Kanwar. Kanwar is the daughter of a bus conductor from Rajasthan.
Taking part in the parade for the first time, four INA veterans, all over 90 years old, rode in open Army jeeps. were included in the parade. The oldest among them, Bhagmal, is 100 years old. He joined the INA in 1942 and now lives Manesar, Haryana. The other three were Lalti Ram, 98, from Panchkula, Hira Singh, 97, from Narnaul in Haryana and Parmanand Yadav from Chandigarh.
There was also the first-time use of indigenously developed biofuel by the Indian Air Force. Its lead aircraft, AN-32 Sutlej transporter, used fuel produced from the jatropha plant, developed and patented by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum at Dehradun.
Every year children honoured with bravery awards rode on elephants at the parade. This year, the children in open roof Gypsy vehicles were not only bravehearts but also innovators, outstanding sports, cultural and social activists, all winners of newly named Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar
Girl from Hyderabad made history
A Hyderabad girl made history as she, for the first time since Independence, led an all-male contingent. The 26-year-old Lt Bhavana Kasturi of the Indian Army Service Corps led the contingent of 144 men with Army chief Bipin Rawat taking the salute. “It was a great moment for me. I felt very happy,” the lady officer said.” I was especially thrilled that my parents were present in the audience just to see me lead the contingent.” Bhavana has said earlier that she has even been posted in places like Kargil and expects to get the same duties as her male counterparts.
