Women in lead, Republic Day Parade to showcase culture, military prowess

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, January 25

A display of culture, artistry, military firepower, new technologies, indigenous capabilities coupled with increased participation of women will be the highlights of the 75th Republic Day Parade at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi tomorrow. French President Emmanuel Macron will be Chief Guest at the 90-minute Parade that commences at 10.30 am. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on the dais as contingents march past the 75,000-strong audience on either side of road. Prior to that, Modi will pay homage at the National War Memorial.

There will be a series of ‘firsts. The host (Ministry of Defence) has made the parade ‘civilian’-centric. Almost 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments will commence the parade, instead of the regular military band contingent. Also, an all-woman tri-service contingent will be part of the marching units. Women will lead the marching contingents of the Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and the Armed Forces Medical Services.

The contingents of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will also be led by women. The Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal, too, will be led by women. The Delhi Police will follow suit.

The Army will for the first time have women officers from the Regiment of Artillery. The DRDO’s tableau theme is ‘Women power in protecting the nation’ and their role in Defence R&D. Outstanding Scientist Sunita Devi Jena will be the contingent commander.

The parade focuses on the themes of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat — Loktantra ki Matruka’. Around 13,000 special guests have been invited. These include best performers in various fields such as patent-holders, sarpanches of Vibrant Villages, women workers of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, leaders of the electronic manufacturing sectors, women space scientists of ISRO, yoga teachers, winners of international sports events.

A total of 25 tableaux from 16 states and UTs, and nine ministries/departments will be part of the parade. Indigenous military technologies such as the Swathi weapon locating radar, capable of locating guns, mortars, and rockets fired by enemy troops; Light Combat Helicopter (LCH); the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers; and Nag anti-tank missiles will be showcased. The LCH is already inducted into the Army and IAF. The DRDO tableau will have critical systems and technologies, including anti-satellite (ASAT) missile, nuclear-tipped Agni-5 and semiconductor fabrication facility. The Ministry of Culture will showcase “Anant Sutra — a visual tribute to the saree”, India’s timeless gift to the world of fashion.