India celebrates 75th Republic Day in Grand Manner, Women Power to the Fore
By Team India Strategic
NEW DELHI. It was a grand spectacle that unfolded before the nation on Kartavya Path, the long boulevard which runs from the doorstep of Rashtrapati Bhawan to the majestic India Gate hexagon. The country celebrated its 75th Republic Day staging a marchpast demonstrating its growth across several sectors with a glimpse of its military strength.
As President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took salute from marching and mechanised contingents drawn from the three Services, para-military and police personnel, a remarkable turnaround was ‘Nari Shakti’ or women power coming to the fore.
French President Emanuel Macron was the Chief Guest for the glittering January 26 Military parade and celebrations. Both host President Murmu and President Macron arriving at the saluting dais in a stately horse-drawn buggy.
Interestingly, the practice of the buggy was brought back after a four decade hiatus on this historic occasion.
The 100-odd minute parade began with four Indian Air Force (IAF) MI-17 helicopters raining flower showers to welcome the people who thronged on either side of the parade route on Kartavya Path. Powered by downwash from the helicopters the petals shimmered as they gently caressed ev3eryone, inspiring a feeling of being blessed from above. In keeping with the spirit of the day, the weather too improved from the cold and the thick blanket of fog dissipated just enough not to rob the spectators of the fun to watch the fly past by fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.
The theme of the diamond jubilee event was to showcase Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and Bharat – Loktantra ki Matruka (India, a Mother of Democracy) and Nari Shakti (Women Power). There was an unmistakable stamp of how women empowerment programmes across different fields was taking shape in India, breaking the glass ceiling by donning combat uniforms in large numbers.
Women Artists Play Traditional Instruments
Taking a break from the past, the parade was heralded by a 100 plus-strong ensemble of women artistes who played traditional instruments like Nagada, Nadaswaram, Dhol and Tasha accompanied by blowing of conch shells. The ‘Avaahan’ represented the traditional welcome note for the over 75,000 spectators who dotted the boulevard and millions who witnessed the event from the comfort of their homes on TVs.
French Contingent
Maintaining the country tradition of honouring the Chief Guest with dignity and respect, following the ensemble were the 30-strong band and 95-strong marching contingent from the French Armed Forces. They were accorded the pride of place in the parade.
With their distinctive white and black kepi hats, the French marchers displayed their unique style. As the contingent marched, keeping company in the skies was an Airbus Multi-Role Tanker Aircraft flanked by two Rafale fighter jet from IAF squadrons.
The participation showed the strong ties between the two countries including in the field of defence. It also reciprocated the participation by Indian contingent at the July 14, 2023 French National Day parade in Paris.
Weapon Power
Sophisticated military hardware in possession of the Indian Armed Forces drew cheers from the assembled while reassuring the people of the strong military and defence systems of the country.
On display were six modern specialised vehicles each suited for different terrains. The armed forced exhibited military hardware developed indigenously. These included the missiles, drone jammers, surveillance systems, vehicle-mounted mortars and BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicles.
Tri-Services Contingent
Indian Navy
Consisting of 144 young sailors, both female and male Agniveers, or literally the newly-inducted firebrands – was led by Lt Prajwal M as Contingent Commander and Lt Mudita Goyal, Lt Sharvani Supreiya and Lt Devika H as Platoon Commanders. They were followed by the Naval Tableau, depicting the themes ‘Nari Shakti’ and ‘Aatmanirbharta: Sea Power Across the Oceans Through Indigenisation’.
The float showed the first fully indigenous Carrier Battle Group, comprising the Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, escort ships INS Delhi, INS Kolkata and INS Shivalik, the Light Combat Aircraft and Advanced Light Helicopter, the French Scorpene ‘Kalavari’ Class Submarine and the GSAT-7, Rukmani Satellite.
Indian Air Force
This equally 144-strong contingent comprised airmen and four officers, led by Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur.
Squadron Leaders Sumita Yadav and Pratiti Ahluwalia and Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil marched past as supernumerary officers behind the Contingent Commander.
The IAF tableau was on the theme ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’. It depicted LCA Tejas and Su-30 flying over the Indian Ocean Region, and a C-295 transport aircraft being flown by women aircrew in the cockpit. The GSAT- 7A on the tableau represented the IAF’s incorporating space technology in its operations. Besides it also showed how IAF has been at the forefront of rendering humanitarian aid, both within and across borders.
Veterans’ Tableau
Another highlight of the parade was the Veterans’ Tableau on the theme ‘Rashtra Nirmaan: Pehle Bhi, Ab Bhi, Aage Bhi aur Hamesha’. It showcased the bravery and sacrifices of the retired servicemen in the service of the nation.
DRDO Tableau and Equipment
Many critical systems/technologies developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were on display. As an enabler of ‘Aatmanirbharta’, or self reliance, DRDO showcased the valuable contribution of women scientists of DRDO in core areas like Missiles and Space.
The DRDO tableau was based on the theme ‘Women Power in Protecting the Nation by providing the Defence Shield in all 5 dimensions namely Land, Air, Sea, Cyber, and Space’.
Women’s involvement in Defence R&D was prominently highlighted in the tableau. Outstanding Scientist Sunita Devi Jena was the Contingent Commander, with P Laxmi Madhavi, J Sujana Choudhary and A Bhuvaneswari also present on the tableau.
The tableau displayed Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile, Agni-5 Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile, Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR), Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’, Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) Astra, Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, ‘Uttam’ Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (AESAR), Advanced Electronic Warfare System ‘Shakti’, Cyber Security systems, Command Control Systems and a Semiconductor Fabrication Facility.
Indian Coast Guard
Led by Assistant Commandant Chunauti Sharma, this contingent included three other women officers, Assistant Commandants Priya Dahiya, Hardik and Pallavi. The ICG, with a fleet of 154 ships and 78 aircraft, is capable of countering threats at and in the sea. It is also the nodal agency for coordinating Maritime Search & Rescue in the 4.6 million square km Indian Search and Rescue Region. ICG has saved about 11,516 lives at sea since inception which translates to saving one life every second day.
Nari Shakti and several firsts at 75th parade
- All women contingent took part in the event
- 15 women pilots of Indian Air Force in the fly past
- Contingents of Central Armed Police Forces were all women
- Lieutenant Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda, led the ‘Swathi’ weapon locating radar and Pinaka rocket system mounted on vehicles. These two are among the 10 women officers commissioned in the Army’s Regiment of Artillery.
- Captain Sandhya Mahla led an all-women contingent consisting of women Agniveers. She was accompanied by Sub-Lieutenant Anshu Yadav, Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Verma and Captain Sharanya Rao.
- In another first, Major Shrishti Khulla, an eye surgeon and a paratrooper, led an all-women Armed Force Medical Services marching contingent.
- Keeping with the theme, the all-male contingent of Bombay Sappers, was also led by a woman officer, Major Divya Tyagi. The famed Sappers have returned to the parade after two decades.
- Major Jerry Blaize and Captain Supreetha CT were the first husband-wife duo to have taken part in the parade together. Blaize is from the Madras Regiment while his wife was part of the Corps of Military Police contingent.
- The Delhi Police contingent led by Additional District Commissioner of Police K Sugathan led the all-women contingent that included one officer, three sub inspectors, 44 head constables and 100 constables. They marched in unison to the martial tune rendered by the all-women pipe band led by Sub-Inspector Ruyangunou Kense.
- The motorcycle riders, an all women ‘Daredevil’ team, literally stole the hearts of the spectators with their amazing skills exhibiting balance and control over the machine. Their bikes gently roared as these personnel performed intricate stunts and formations christened ‘Chandrayaan’, ‘Sarvatra Suraksha’, ‘Abhivadan’ and ‘ Yog se Siddhi’.
Cultural Pageantry and Cherry Blossoms
Sixteen tableaux from States and Union Territories and nine from Central Government Ministries and Three Armed Forces floated across the Kartavya Path which depicted the country’s rich and varied tapestry.
These floats highlighted women empowerment while a special tableau mounted by India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh was of the recently consecrated Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
The float also depicted the upcoming airport at Jewar near Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar), not far from the New Delhi international airport. With more land available, Jewer would be a bigger airport to serve the fast increasing demands of travelers.
Each of India’s 28 states and 8 Union territories showcased its distinct and unique features of culture with Meghalaya stealing the thunder, depicting the cherry blossom bloom in shades of pink besides the scuba diving site along the Umngot River in Dawki and its flora and fauna.
In keeping with accent on women power, Chhattisgarh put forward a scene of a 600-year old tradition of community where decision making was with equal representation of men and women.
Ladakh displayed the Women’s Ice Hockey.
Fly Past -the Thrilling Finale
As always, the most thrilling part of the Republic Day parade is the Fly Past.
The breath-taking air show by 54 aircraft and helicopters held everybody spellbound width their necks locked towards the sky. The roaring flying machines included three Rafale aircraft from the French Air and Space Force, 46 from the Indian Air Force, one from the Indian Navy, and four helicopters from the Indian Army. IAF aircraft included the LCA Tejas, Rafales, Su 39 MKIs, Mig 29s, Jaguar, Dakota, Dornier, LCH Prachand, ALH Dhruv as well as Boeing’s Apache helicopter and C 17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter and Lockheed Martin’s C 130J.
The vertical Charlie by an IAF Rafale fighter provided the scintillating finale.
