India Republic Day parade mixes the new and the old
21 OF THE 25 CHILDREN WHO WON THE NATIONAL BRAVERY AWARDS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE CELEBRATORY MARCH
Marking the anniversary of the day the country’s constitution was adopted in 1950, India celebrated its 68th Republic Day yesterday, with a customary grand parade showcasing its military might and resplendent cultural diversity, with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces as the chief guest.
A massive ground-to-air security apparatus was in place in the national capital Delhi following intelligence warnings of an aerial terror attack.
There had been specific inputs recently that militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba were planning to launch an attack on important personalities during the Republic Day celebrations.
As part of the multi-layered security, around 60,000 security personnel were deployed across Delhi.
Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee, the ceremonial parade was watched by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, VicePresident Hamid Ansari, former Among the civilian Padma awardees announced for this year were 15 unsung heroes known to have made a difference with their talent and contribution to the cause of nation-building.
Special emphasis has been laid on awarding recognition to those who have been rendering selfless service to society, officials said.
“These are the people for whom no recommendation came. Our own research team dug out information about them, cross-checked with local district officials and then sent it to Padma Committee for consideration,” Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told journalists yesterday.
Daripalli Ramaiah or the ‘Tree Man of Telangana’ who planted over 10 million trees in his lifetime, Dr Subrato Das of Gujarat who provided emergency treatment on highways, and Dr Bhakti Yadav, a 91-year-old gynecologist who has been serving the poor for free for over 60 years, are some of the achievers recognised by the central government this year.
Many others who got decorated included Madhubani PM Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and the country’s top political, military and diplomatic brass.
Displays from 17 states and Union Territories and six central ministries and departments showcased the varied historical, art and cultural heritage of the country. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was the theme of the tableau of the Central Board of Excise and Customs. painter Baoa Devi, singer K.J. Yesudas, Odia actor Sadhu Meher for his five decades of contribution to Indian cinema and Genabhai Dargabhai Patel, who transformed drought-affected land into pomegranate farms in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. Volunteer firefighter Bipin Ganatra from West Bengal was decorated with Padma Shri. He is the only person apart from fire brigade officials who has been to almost every fire accident site in Kolkata in the last 40 years. Dr Suniti Solomon, who diagnosed the first Aids case in India in 1985, was also awarded Padma Shri posthumously. India’s oldest Kalaripayattu exponent Meenakshi Amma was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, for practising the ancient art form said to be at the root of Chinese martial arts. A school dropout Chintakindi Mallesham, who invented the Laxmi ASU machine, got the Padma Shri in the category ‘science and engineering’. The machine significantly reduces the labour and time required to weave Pochampalli silk saris.
President Mukherjee presented bravery and other awards, including those to soldiers who carried out the surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistanadministered Kashmir last year.
As many as 21 of the 25 children who won the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade.
Four children received the award posthumously.
Mukherjee also presented the gallantry award ‘Ashok Chakra’ to late soldier Hangpan Dada’s wife Chasen Lowang. Dada showed exemplary bravery while fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir in May last year.
About 600 boys and girls from three schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur performed colourful dances on varied themes.
Before the parade began, PM Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and chiefs of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force laid wreaths at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’, the war memorial at the India Gate.
President Mukherjee, PM Modi and other leaders also greeted the nation on the Republic Day occasion. In his televised address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day, Mukherjee hailed India’s pluralism and diversity.
Modi greeted citizens in the morning by tweeting, “Republic Day greetings to everyone.”
Yesterday, braving light drizzle, the crowds cheered the contingents of the Indian army, navy and air force.
‘Black Cat’ commandos
The marching army contingents included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the Bihar Regiment, the 39 Gorkha Training Centre, 58 Gorkha Training Centre, the Madras Engineering Group and Centre and 103 Infantry Battalion. The navy contingent comprised 144 young sailors and it was led by Lieutenant Aparna Nair. President Pranab Mukherjee took the salute.
The ‘Black Cat’ commandos of counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) participated in the parade for the first time.