Republic Day, India
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Five things to know about 66th Republic Day
The history of the parade
January 26 marks the day in 1950 when India adopted its constitution, after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
Every year, India hosts the leader of a foreign country as chief guest for the parade. Obama is the first US president to be guest of honour.
Historical trivia
V Kumara Swamy, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
From: V Kumara Swamy, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
From: V Kumara Swamy, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
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From: V Kumara Swamy, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
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From: V Kumara Swamy, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
In 2021, a 122-member contingent from Bangladesh's armed forces was part of the Republic Day parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pak war that led to the liberation and creation of Bangladesh. This was the first time that a marching contingent from a neighbouring country was invited to participate in the parade. France has been the other country to feature in a previous year.
Over the past 71 years, there have been quite a few features and elements introduced to the Republic Day parades. And many significant firsts'. Here's a look at some of them. 1) The Republic Day parade at the current venue – New Delhi's Rajpath – was held for the first time in 1955. Between 1950 and 1954, the parade was held at Delhi's Red Fort, National Stadium, Kingsway Camp and the Ramlila ground.
2) In 2008, Pratibha Devisingh Patil became the first woman President of India to take the salute during the Republic Day parade. Patil assumed the office of the President on July 25, 2007 and continued until 2012.
3) A contingent of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), comprising college students, took part in the parade for the first time in 1951 and it has continued to be part of it to this day. A brainchild of the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, NCC units were established across the country in 1949.
An NCC contingent has been part of the Republic Day parade since 1951 (PIB photo) 4) The other youth organisation, National Service Scheme (NSS) was invited to be part of the parade for the first time in 1988. The youth-based public service programme, was established in 1969 to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's birth centenary. The NSS has been a regular feature of the parade since 1988.
5) Captain Divya Ajith of the Indian Army became the first officer to lead an all-women contingent during the 2015 Republic Day parade. In fact, this was also the first year when the Indian Navy and Air Force also had all-women contingents marching down the Rajpath.
6) A contingent from Bangladesh will participate in the parade for the first time this year, but it is not the first foreign nation to do so. In 2016, a French Army contingent took part in the Republic Day parade on Rajpath. Incidentally, French President Francois Hollande was the 'Guest of Honour' that year.
7) One of the most popular attractions during the Republic Day parade is the caparisoned contingent of camels. Belonging to the Border Security Force (BSF), 'the ship of the desert' has been part of the parade since 1950. The Indian Army was in charge of the camel contingent until 1976 when the BSF took over the tradition. Except for a break of two years, this contingent has always been part of the parade.
8) In 2020, for the first time, a contingent of women bikers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) performed daredevil stunts on Rajpath. They were led by inspector Seema Nag who saluted President Ram Nath Kovind while standing atop a moving motorcycle, balancing herself deftly.
9) Ever since 1950, when Indonesian President Sukarno was invited as the 'Guest of Honour' for the first parade, India had up to three world leaders as its 'Guests of Honour' at different times, but, in 2018, for the first ever, it had as many as 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as its 'Guests of Honour'.
Its Content
The Republic Day parade is a pomp-filled spectacle that combines the Soviet-style showcasing of military hardware with carnival-style floats featuring tribal dancers and traditional music.
Columns of uniformed troops will march down New Delhi's broad Rajpath avenue as helicopters shower the crowds with petals.
Tableaux
How the tableaux are designed and selected
Krishn Kaushik, January 18, 2022: The Indian Express
When does the process to decide the tableaux start and who can participate?
Around September every year the Defence Ministry, which is responsible for the Republic Day parade and the celebrations, invites all the states, the Union Territories, Central Government departments, and a few constitutional authorities to participate in the parade through tableaux.
The Defence Ministry wrote letters to the 80 Union Ministries and departments, all 36 states and Union Territories through their secretaries, and the Election Commission and the Niti Aayog on September 16, inviting them to participate. The letter mentioned that it “initiates the process of inviting tableau proposals for participation” in the Republic Day parade.
The proposals had to be submitted by September 27, and the shortlisting of the proposals began in the second week of October.
Can the participating states or central government departments depict anything through their tableaux?
The participants have to showcase elements relevant to their state/ UT/ department, within the overarching theme. The theme given to participants this year was around 75 years of India’s Independence. The theme, the government told willing participants is India@75 – Freedom struggle, Ideas @ 75, Achievements @ 75, Actions @ 75 and Resolve @ 75.
The Defence Ministry also shares the basic guidelines about what all the tableaux can or should include. The participating entities must engage “young qualified designers from renowned institutions”, electronic display walls for bright display of images or content, moving elements using robotics or mechatronics, 3D printing could be used for certain elements, use of augmented or virtual reality, and special effects to improve the optics and visual effects of the tableau.
The tableaux of two different states/ UTs cannot be too similar, as the tableaux, together, should showcase the diversity of the country.
The tableaux cannot have any writing or use of logos, except for the name of the state/ UT/ department, which should be written in Hindi on the front, English on the back, and a regional language on the sides.
The Defence Ministry also asked the participants to use eco-friendly material for the tableaux, and avoid the use of plastic or plastic-based products.
How are the tableaux selected?
The selection process is elaborate and time-consuming. The Defence Ministry constitutes an expert committee of distinguished persons from fields like art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc, who help in shortlisting the tableaux from the proposals.
First, the submitted sketches or designs of the proposals are scrutinised by this committee, which can make suggestions for any modifications in the sketch or design. The sketch should be simple, colouful, easy to comprehend and should avoid unnecessary detail. It should be self-explanatory, and should not need any written elaboration.
If there is a traditional dance involved with the tableau, it should be a folk dance, and the costumes and musical instruments should be traditional and authentic. The proposal should include a video clipping of the dance.
Once approved, the next stage is for the participants to come up with three dimensional models for their proposals, which are again examined by the expert committee for final selection, taking in view several criteria.
In making the final selection the committee looks at a combination of factors, looking at the visual appeal, impact on the masses, idea/ theme of the tableaux, degree of detail involved, accompanying music, among other factors.
The committee meets for around half a dozen rounds over a number of days, eliminating and shortlisting the proposals as they go along. Only those who are shortlisted, are informed about the next round.
The letter inviting participation stressed: “Final selection does not guarantee movement on Rajpath in the final parade, if it has not been created in terms of the final approved version during selection round.”
The Defence Ministry recommends the participants to try and not engage any firm or fabricator that are involved in creation of two tableaux, including their own.
Do they have to be of a particular size?
The Defence Ministry provides each participant with one tractor and one trailer, and the tableau should fit on that. The ministry prohibits use of any additional tractor or trailer, or even any other vehicle to be part of it. However, the participant can replace their ministry-provided tractor or trailer with other vehicles, but the total number should not be more than two vehicles.
The tractor has to be camouflaged in harmony with the tableau’s theme, and the ministry stipulates a distance of around six feet between the tractor and the trailer for turning and manoeuvering.
The participants can add ground elements on some tableaux, considering the theme.
The dimensions of the trailer on which the tableau will be placed is 24 feet, 8 inches long; eight feet wide; four feet two inches high; with a load bearing capacity of 10 tonnes. The tableaux should not be more than 45 feet long, 14 feet wide and 16 feet high from the ground.
1950
V Kumara Swamy, January 25, 2021: The Times of India
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From: V Kumara Swamy, January 25, 2021: The Times of India
From: V Kumara Swamy, January 25, 2021: The Times of India
It was a chilly Thursday morning on January 26, 1950. The air was charged with excitement. Delhi had been preparing for weeks for this day, the rehearsals for the event had started since it was, after all, a historic day: the day when India would declare itself a Sovereign Democratic Republic. And the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad would be installed in office.
As day broke, different localities of Delhi witnessed early morning processions or ' Prabhat Pheris' by jubilant citizens, beating drums and blowing conch shells, singing patriotic songs, heralding the arrival of the day. There were similar celebrations across the country.
The day began early for President-elect Dr Rajendra Prasad, with a visit to Rajghat to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.
Soon after visiting the Gandhi memorial spot, Dr Prasad was driven to Government House (later named Rashtrapati Bhavan) where he would meet India's last Governor General C. Rajagopalachari. Both leaders then proceeded to the high-domed Durbar Hall, where Prasad was welcomed with the blowing of trumpets by the President's guards. Rajagopalachari then read a proclamation at eighteen minutes past ten, according to which, “India, that is, Bharat” was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic. A few minutes later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first President of India by the then Chief Justice of India Harilal Kania in the Durbar Hall.
Although the flag of the first and last Indian Governor General of India was different from the British viceroys and governors general, it retained some of the British characteristics. On the other hand, the President's flag replacing it had four equally divided sections with the first quarter carrying the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the second quarter had a 5th-century painting from the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad, the third quarter had a weighing scale from Delhi’s Red Fort and the fourth had the image of a vase of the Indian lotus from Sarnath near present-day Varanasi. This flag was discontinued in 1971 and the Rashtrapati Bhavan started flying the tricolor.
As a band played the National Anthem, the birth of the Republic to the outside world was announced with a booming of 31 gun salute. Dr Prasad went on to deliver his acceptance speech in Hindi. In his message, he said India's government would now be "carried on by its people and for its people. “The objective of our Republic is to secure justice, liberty and equality to its citizens and to promote fraternity among the people who inhabit its vast territories and follow different religions, speak various languages and observe their peculiar customs," Dr Prasad added.
The newly installed President later presided over the swearing in of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Deputy Prime Minister Vallabh Bhai Patel and Cabinet ministers BR, Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and others in an anteroom of the Government House.
The public celebrations were to begin in the afternoon. It began with the President and the chief guest at the function, Indonesian President Sukarno, being driven in a six-horse carriage to New Delhi’s Irwin Stadium (later named Dhyan Chand Stadium) at 2:30pm. Escorted by the President’s Bodyguards, the five mile path was lined with jubilant public raising slogans to hail the republic.
The procession was given a musical touch with a band of the Gwalior Lancers on horse-back leading it. It passed through New Delhi’s Parliament Street, Connaught Circus, Barakhamba Road, Sikandra Road and Hardinge Avenue (Tilak Marg) before reaching the Stadium. The procession passed through 15 large tastefully decorated, arches depicting scenes from Indian history and civilisation. All of them had popular mottos or verses from the Mahabharata inscribed on them. The procession took more than an hour to reach the stadium, where India's first Defence Minister Sardar Baldev Singh welcomed the President and Guest of Honour. Later, around 15,000 people inside the stadium witnessed the hoisting of the Indian National Flag and singing of the National Anthem.
Among the guests were foreign ambassadors, princes, Members of the Constituent Assembly, representatives of various provinces of India, school students, government servants and others.
This was followed by a march past of the defence forces—contingents drawn from the Indian Army, Air Force, and the Navy. There were also contingents from Delhi Police, and bands of the three services. A fly past by Indian Air Force's Liberator aircraft was also another memorable spectacle.
The day ended with the outgoing Governor General hosting a dinner at the Government House for the President, cabinet ministers and other guests. Important government buildings, mosques and temples were decked up for the evening.
The days events were captured by the media with bold front-page stories in the nation’s leading dailies the next day. While the Times of India had a banner headline "India Proclaimed Sovereign Democratic Republic," the Indian Express' went with "India Declared Sovereign Democratic Republic" with a Madras-datelined story talking about how the city had been turned into "City of Lights" thanks to the illumination of buildings in the city to celebrate the day. The Hindu in its editorial said, "For Republican India it is as necessary, as it was for India struggling to be free, to keep the crusading spirit alive. Only, the crusade must be turned against the enemy within. The Constitution has provided us with the shell of democracy. It is up to us to invoke life into it."
2014: Expenditure
Centre spent Rs 320 crore on R-Day in 2014: RTI Priyangi AgarwalThe Times of India Jan 25 2015 Bareilly:
Ever wondered how much the Republic Day ceremony at Rajpath, with all its smart marches, colourful tableaus and performing artistes, costs to put together? A query under the RTI Act has elicited a response from the Central Public Works Department that says the Centre spent Rs 320 crore on the four-hour parade in 2014. Over the years, the expenses have risen substantially . In 2001, the expenditure was Rs 145 crore.
Pawan Agrawal, a Moradabad-based RTI activist, had last year sought details on the expenses incurred on I-Day and R-Day functions at the Red Fort from 2000 to 2013. The response to his query , however, only contained details of expenses on Republic Day celebrations.
The Rs 145 crore incurred in the financial year 2000-01 rose to Rs 226 crore in 2003-04. For the next three years, though, expenditure decreased somewhat, in step with a not-sohealthy economy . In 2006-07, the government spent Rs 149 crore, before the sum rapidly climbing up to Rs 320 crore in 2014.
2015: Highlights
US President Barack Obama was chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, a spectacular projection of the nation's military might and cultural diversity.
Every year state governments and ministries are selected to create tableaux on different themes, which in 2015 included Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" campaign to boost the country's manufacturing industry and create much-needed jobs.
In 2015 the tableaux also highlighted national achievements such as the launch of India's first space mission to Mars.
One show-stopper was the Border Security Force (BSF) on their brightly-decorated camels — one of only a few military forces in the world to use the animals.
The grand finale was a display of daring motorcycle stunts by the BSF, famed for their formation of a human pyramid on moving bikes, followed by a spectacular fly-past by the Indian Air Force that leaves a smoke-trail of the orange, white and green national flag.
What was new
All-female units from the Army, Navy and Air Force will march for the first time in this year's parade, which will feature 25 tableaux -- five more than in 2014.
Security was particularly tight this year, with roads sealed off and the metro shut down for the duration of the parade. Snipers will be posted on rooftops along the parade route, while helicopters and surveillance drones monitor from above. Some 400 kilometres (250 miles) around the venue has been declared a no-fly zone and 15,000 new CCTV cameras have been installed.
President Obama
Obama breaks 2 traditions at R-Day parade The Times of India Jan 27 2015
Obama broke two traditions -one Indian and one American -on Monday.The Indian President and the chief guest always arrive for the parade in the President's vehicle. But Obama turned up in his custommade Beast, which has armour plating and five-inch thick bulletproof windows, instead of President Mukherjee's armoured Black Mercedes Benz S600 (W221) Pullman Guard. Obama also ignored US secret service protocol that he not spend more than 45 minutes at any open-air venue. He was at Rajpath for over two hours.
India connect
January 16, 2015
The 44th US President is our 66th Republic Day chief guest.Here's more to Obama's India connect
LUCKY CHARM
Barack Obama carries with him a tiny figurine of Hanuman.This gladdened Hindu hearts so much that in 2008, a dozen priests in Delhi chanted to the monkey god to grant Obama victory in the elections.
DESTINATION INDIA
This is the third time Obama is visiting India: he first came as a student; in 2010, when he called the US-India relationship to be the "defining partnership of the 21st century", and also hosted a town hall meeting at St Xavier's College,Mumbai
DIWALI NIGHTS
Ever since he took office, the President and the First Lady have welcomed guests to the White House for Diwali celebrations, which start with lighting of a diya in the White House.
YOUNG INDIA
One of the things that he admires about India is the potential of its vast young population,mostly below 30.
CULTURE VULTURES
The US First Lady Michelle Obama is known to be a collector of iconic Indian art: Ganesha,Patachitra scrolls of Bengal and Madhubani paintings of Bihar. She also enjoys dancing to Bollywood music.
MAHATMA CONNECT
As an African-American, he has a 'personal'connection with India.An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, he has a portrait of Gandhi in his senate office. Often draws comparisons between the plight of his immigrant father from Kenya and that of Indian immigrants.
FRIENDS AND MORE
Obama has shown support for Indian-Americans by appointing many of them to high public offices in the US such as Vinai K.Thummalapally and Aneesh Chopra among many others.
2020
Army honours
January 26, 2021: The Times of India
The nation’s second-highest wartime gallantry medal Maha Vir Chakra has been posthumously awarded to Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, while another four soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the numerically superior Chinese troops at Galwan Valley have been conferred with Vir Chakras.
In this year’s R-Day list of 455 gallantry medals and other decorations, Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren (16 Bihar), Havaldar K Palani (81 Field Regiment), Naik Deepak Singh (Army Medical Corps) and Sepoy Gurtej Singh (3 Punjab) have been posthumously awarded Vir Chakras. Havaldar Tejinder Singh (3 medium Regiment), in turn, is the fifth recipient of the medal for the Galwan clash under “Operation Snow Leopard” in June last year.
Kirti Chakra, the peacetime equivalent to Maha Vir Chakra, has been posthumously conferred on Subedar Sanjiv Kumar (4 Para-Special Forces) for killing terrorists during a major infiltration bid in the Keran sector along the Line of Control in April last year.
The other four Kirti Chakra awardees are from CRPF, with inspector Pintu Kumar Singh, head constable Shyam Narain Singh Yadava and constable Vinod Kumar getting it posthumously. The fourth is deputy commandant Rahul Mathur.
Col Babu, the commanding officer of 16 Bihar, and 19 other soldiers were killed during the violent skirmish with the People’s Liberation Army on June 15.
Recalling Col Babu’s bravery, the citation said: “While holding the position, his column faced stiff resistance from the adversary who attacked using lethal and sharp weapons (nail-studded rods) along with heavy stone pelting from adjoining heights. Undaunted by the violent and aggressive action by overwhelming strength of enemy soldiers, Col Babu in true spirit of service before self, continued to resist the enemy’s attempt to pushback Indian troops,” it said.
“In the skirmish that broke out and ensuing hand-to-hand combat with enemy soldiers, he valiantly resisted the enemy attack till his last breath, inspiring and motivating his troops to hold ground,” it said.
Police awards
Bharti Jain, January 26, 2021: The Times of India
Pulwama attack martyr and CRPF assistant sub-inspector Mohan Lal was conferred the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) on Republic Day eve for being the first to spot the explosives-laden car moving alongside the CRPF convoy on February 14, 2019 and having fired to stop the vehicle before it rammed into a bus in the convoy.
Mohan Lal was among the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the suicide terror attack. The attack had led the Indian Air Force to retaliate with crossborder air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad facilities in Balakot deep inside Pakistan.
A total 946 police medals were announced on the eve of Republic Day, which include 2 PPMG, 205 Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), 89 President’s Police Medal (PPM) for Distinguished Service and 650 Police Medal (PM) for Meritorious Service.
CRPF bagged the highest number of police medals at 132, followed by UP police (97), BSF and J&K police (71 each).
Among the 207 gallantry awards winners, 137 were awarded for action in J&K, 24 in Left-wing extremism-affected areas and one in the northeast. As many as 69 personnel recognised for gallantry are from CRPF, 52 from J&K police, 20 from BSF, 17 from Delhi Police, 13 from Maharashtra police and 8 each are from Chhattisgarh and UP police. Of the 69 gallantry medals that went to CRPF, 61 were for operations in J&K and 8 in Leftwing extremism-hit areas. In fact, J&K police and CRPF together bagged 113 or nearly 55% of the total 207 gallantry medals awarded this R-Day, for operations in J&K theatre.
The CBI received 31 police medals for distinguished/ meritorious service, IB 34, RPF 16 and NIA 6.
The second PPMG, the highest category of police gallantry awards, went posthumously to Banua Oraon, ASI in Jharkhand police, who succumbed to injuries suffered during an encounter with Maoists in Seraikella district in June 2018. The Maoists had to retreat in wake of the nearly three-hour long encounter.
Mohan Lal was performing the duties of picket commander of a road opening party at Lethpora, Pulwama on February 14, 2019 when he noticed a car moving alongside the convoy and trying to enter between the convoy vehicles. Sensing something suspicious, he signalled and chased the car to stop before firing at it. The car rammed into a CRPF bus of the convoy, leading to a huge explosion.
See also
Republic Day, India <>Republic Day, India: 1950 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1951-69 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1970-79 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1980-89 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 1990-99 <> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 2000-09<> Republic Day, India: Guests of Honour, 2010-19
