Thousands of spectators from all across the country flocked Rajpath early in the morning on January 26 to witness the 1.5 hour-long parade that has become a major part of India's Republic Day celebrations. Braving the cold and dense fog, citizens kept the spirit of the day alive by cheering for every contingent, defence weaponry, and cultural tableaux that went down the eight kilometre-long stretch between Rashtrapati Bhawan and Red Fort.
Patriotic fervour reached borderline chaos at 9 in the morning, when the commentators announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival to receive the President, Vice-President, and the very esteemed ten chief guests. By 10.15 am, contingents had begun passing through. In a significant move, one showing India's fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 nations of the group attended the parade, making witness to India's military might and cultural diversity. In the country to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, the leaders joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi.
The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding. Headquarters Delhi Area. Supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces, President Kovind took the salute at the parade. Also present at the event were ministers of the ruling government, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister JP Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attended the parade, and was seen sitting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Also, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia were in the audience.
Parade of variety
The annual Republic Day parade consisted of a march past by Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag. They also carried flags of the 10 guest ASEAN nations. Twenty three tableaux of different states, ministries, and the All India Radio rolled down the path. States and union territories showcased their historical, art and cultural heritage.
The marching contingent of the Army included horse0mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts, the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion- Territorial Army. Marching contingent of the Navy, comprising 144 young sailors, was led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent, comprising 144 men, was led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon. Paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces including the Border Security Force also marched on the Rajpath.
Camel Contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme were also among the marching contingents at the parade. The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System were showcased at the parade.
The Indian Navy's tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy-Combat Ready Force for National Security'. It also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020. The Defence Development and Research Organisation meanwhile, exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system. In firsts, the All India Radio tableau featured PM Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat', and the Income Tax Department tableau showed special anti-black money drive launched post-demonetisation.
The highlight of the parade was however the motorcycle contingent, ‘Seema Bhawani’, comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade. 113 women, aged between 20 and 31 years, reportedly went through rigorous training to prepare for the show. They performed stunts including Salute to President, Fish Riding, Side Riding, Faulaad, Prachand Baalay Shaktiman on their 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles.
Grand ending
The finale was as spectacular as it could be, as a flypast by MI-7 and Rudra Armed helicopters along with several IAF aircraft zoomed over the crowd, as they oohed and aahed. The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them were the 'Netra' which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also called 'Eye in the Sky'. It was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globe master flanked by two Su-30 MKIs among others.
The ceremony ended with the playing of the national anthem and the release of thousands of balloons.
ASEAN guests grace the occasion
The presence of the ASEAN leaders was unprecedented and reflected India's status as a super power in a region, where China has been incessantly trying to increase its influence. PM Modi had invited the leaders to attend the celebrations as chief guests. Present to witness the grandeur of Indian celebrations, were Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen.
Ties between India and countries of the powerful bloc has seen an upswing since Modi came to power. Both the parties account for a combined population of 1.85 billion people, one fourth of the population of the entire world. Their combined GDP is estimated to be over $3.8 trillion. Investment from ASEAN to India has been over $70 billion in the last 17 years, more than 17 per cent of the country's total FDI. Indian investment in the bloc in the same period has been over $40 billion.
“The presence of the 10 ASEAN leaders at the Republic Day function in New Delhi reiterates India's commitment to strengthen the cultural, social and religious bonding and expand economic engagement, besides regaining the much-deserved strategic space in the region,” said Sheshadri Chari, a member of the National Executive of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
