Jolly Miles

January 26, 1950, Thursday, 10:18 AM – India severed its last ties with the British crown and was declared a “Sovereign Republic” with its own constitution and a head of the nation. Every year, we celebrate the anniversary of this historic moment as the Republic Day, a celebration of India’s democratic ethos, fundamental rights, undisputed sovereignty and the supremacy of the constitution. The grand spectacle at the Kartavya Path, New Delhi where the President of India unfurls the tricolour is not a mere exhibition of the military might and cultural extravaganza of India, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to uphold the principles enshrined in the constitution and a display of the cultural, territorial integrity of our nation.

Kartavya Path or Rajpath as it was previously called is a ceremonial pathway flaked by manicured lawns that connects Rashtrapathi Bhawan on the Raisina Hills to the the India Gate. The ceremonial parade by the tri service forces, paramilitary troops and police personnel is held on the eve of Republic Day at the Kartavya Path which showcases the the military might and cultural extravaganza of India. In some way the parade is a continuation of the pre-colonial era when emperors showcased their supremacy through elaborate parades of soldiers, cavalry and caparisoned elephants.

Our efforts to secure a ticket through the “Amantran” website launched by Ministry of Defence ended in utter disappointment last year when even after trying for days, we could manage to login to the portal. This year as the Republic turned platinum, fortune favoured us and we managed to get 2 tickets for the 75th Republic Day. We were super excited to witness the grand parade that we grew up watching each year on TV. Meticulous planning goes into the traffic and crowd management on the day of the event. We followed the advisory issued on the previous day and reached the Central Secretariat metro station on the yellow line of Delhi metro, the station closest to our enclosure at around 8:40 AM. We were already quite late and unsure if we would be allowed inside but as we reached close to the entrance gate we saw a long queue waiting for their turn to be screened before entering. There are multiple rounds of scanning and frisking which delays the entry but its all for the right reasons. After 3 rounds of scanning, we entered enclosure no. 8, which was the second enclosure from the India gate end. It was not the most ideal location but we were happy to have managed to get an entry to the event which was a bucket list item for many years now.

The event kickstarted with the Hon’ble President of India unfurling the national flag followed by the national anthem. The first ones on the marching track were the gallantry award winners – the Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, etc. Next were the marching contingents from the tri-services regiments, paramilitary troops and police forces. Synchronized files of uniformed personnel in ceremonial attire, matching their steps to the drumbeats playing tunes of memorable patriotic songs – a feast for the eyes, melody for the ears and thrill for the heart. The cavalry contingents and the Border Security Force Camel Band added a novel flavour to the parade. This marching regiments were followed by the tanks, missiles and other heavy artillery vehicles. Next up were the tableaus of various states and government departments showcasing the cultural diversity of India along with ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat: Loktantra ki Matruka’ the theme for the 75th Republic Day.

After a series of these adorably decked up tableaus came the real showstoppers of the event – the Daredevils beyond fear. On the sky the Indian Airforce contingents performed various flying formations exhibiting an impressive collection of fighter jets – Sukhoi, MiG, Tejas, etc. and finally the cynosure, a marvel of modern warfare the Rafale jets. The most breathtaking of all was the Vertical Charlie formation, a sight which will remain etched in the memory forever. While the brave hearts roared in the skies, another set of daredevils showcased their valour and dexterity on motorbikes performing astounding stunts on the Kartavya Path. These two acts were the icing on the cake which capped an event of colourful celebrations, heroic performances and patriotic fervor.