NEW DELHI: The 71st Republic Day Parade on Sunday witnessed several firsts and a break from tradition: for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the three service chiefs paid tribute to war heroes at National War Memorial, and several new helicopters, an anti-satellite missile and a ‘make-in-India’ gun made debut at the majestic parade.
At around 9.30am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sporting a saffron ‘bandhej’ headgear, with newly-appointed chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs — Army chief General M M Naravane, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria — paid homage at the National War Memorial, not at India Gate, for the first time. The eternal flame, also called Amar Jawant Jyoti, that is lit under India Gate is also burning at the National War Memorial, which mention names of all Indian soldiers who have died defending the country since Independence.
After paying tribute at the war memorial, all dignarities came to the VVIP enclosure alongside Rajpath, where R-Day chief guest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was welcomed. This was the third time that a Brazilian president was the chief guest at the parade, the last occasion being in 2004.
Around 10am, Lt Gen Asit Mistry, general officer commanding, Delhi area, followed by parade second-in-command Major General Alok Kacker led the parade, which comprised personnel from different services in vibrant and colourful uniforms. The Army was represented by a mounted column of 61 Cavalry, eight mechanised columns and six marching contingents. Three Param Vir Chakra and four Ashok Chakra awardees also participated in the parade. Altogether, 16 contingents from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi police, NCC, NSS and 13 military bands marched past President Ram Nath Kovind, who took the salute.
Indigenously-developed main battle tank T-90 Bhishma tank, infantry combat vehicle Ballway Machine Pikate, self-propelled K-9 Vajra gun and the Akash weapon system were the main attractions in the mechanised columns. The other marching contingents of the Army included the Parachute regiment, Grenadiers regiment, Sikh Light Infantry regiment, Kumaon regiment and Corps of Signals. The naval contingent comprised 144 young sailors led by Lieutenant Jitin Malkat. It was followed by the naval tableau titled ‘Indian Navy — Silent, Strong, and Swift’. Flight Lt Shrikant Sharma led the Air Force contingent, comprising 144 air warriors.
Stree Shakti was also in full display at the parade. The star attraction was Captain Tania Shergill, a fourth-generation army officer, who led an all-male Army contingent of 144 personnel, 2 JCOs and one officer. The 5-foot-10-inch-tall girl from Punjab’s Hoshiarpur was the first woman officer to be a parade adjutant on the Army Day parade in Delhi a few days ago. Major Sheena Nayyar, who is the first Army officer in her family, led a contingent of the transportable satellite terminal. The satellite system provides the fail-safe secure communication to the forces on the move. Women personnel were also part of the navy and air force marching contingents. At the end of the parade, an all-women team of CRPF showcased their daredevil skills on motorcycles.
For the first time, a DRDO missile used in last year’s ‘Mission Shakti’ anti-satellite weapon test, which put India in the elite counter-space capability club, was shown during the 90-minute parade.
A 155mm ‘make-in-India’ Dhanush gun, developed by Ordnance Factory Board, was also displayed for the first time during the parade. Initial clearance has been given for the bulk production of the 155mm indigenous gun. A model of fourth-generation multirole fighter jet Rafale, which France will be delivering to India in phases as per the Rs 59,000-crore deal for 36 aircraft, was part of the parade. A ‘Saravatra Bridge’ system, a five-metre short span bridge system and an air defence tactical control radar also made their debut.
A total of 22 tableax representing different states and ministries depicting the country’s rich cultural heritage and economic progress rolled down the Rajpath. The colourful tableax belonging to Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Telangana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, MP, Goa, Odisha, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, UP, Karnataka, J&K, Punjab, department of promotion of industry and internal trade, dept of financial services, NDRF, ministry of Jal Shakti, ministry of shipping showcasing the Kolkata Port Trust, which was recently rechristened as Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, and CPWD enthralled viewers. Forty-nine children, who are winners of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruaskar, rode open jeeps and waived at people. They were followed by four cultural performances by schoolchildren.
The flypast by IAF aircraft was unique this time as US-manufactured heavy-lift Chinook helicopters and deadliest attack helicopter Apaches, which were used in Iraq and Afghanistan war, flew for the first time over Rajpath in different formations. Both the imported helicopters were recently inducted into the IAF.
Dornier aircraft, C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, an Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft and the ‘Globe’ formation comprising three C-17 Globemasters spellbound the viewers with their performances. Five Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft and five MiG-29 upgrade air superiority fighters in ‘Arrowhead’ formation displayed their aerial manoeuvre. At the end, a fleet of Sukhoi-30 MKI jets split the sky with a breathtaking ‘Vertical Charlie’ aerobatic manoeuvre. The parade culminated with the release of tricolour balloons by the Indian Meterological Department.
At around 9.30am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sporting a saffron ‘bandhej’ headgear, with newly-appointed chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs — Army chief General M M Naravane, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria — paid homage at the National War Memorial, not at India Gate, for the first time. The eternal flame, also called Amar Jawant Jyoti, that is lit under India Gate is also burning at the National War Memorial, which mention names of all Indian soldiers who have died defending the country since Independence.
After paying tribute at the war memorial, all dignarities came to the VVIP enclosure alongside Rajpath, where R-Day chief guest Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was welcomed. This was the third time that a Brazilian president was the chief guest at the parade, the last occasion being in 2004.
Around 10am, Lt Gen Asit Mistry, general officer commanding, Delhi area, followed by parade second-in-command Major General Alok Kacker led the parade, which comprised personnel from different services in vibrant and colourful uniforms. The Army was represented by a mounted column of 61 Cavalry, eight mechanised columns and six marching contingents. Three Param Vir Chakra and four Ashok Chakra awardees also participated in the parade. Altogether, 16 contingents from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi police, NCC, NSS and 13 military bands marched past President Ram Nath Kovind, who took the salute.
Indigenously-developed main battle tank T-90 Bhishma tank, infantry combat vehicle Ballway Machine Pikate, self-propelled K-9 Vajra gun and the Akash weapon system were the main attractions in the mechanised columns. The other marching contingents of the Army included the Parachute regiment, Grenadiers regiment, Sikh Light Infantry regiment, Kumaon regiment and Corps of Signals. The naval contingent comprised 144 young sailors led by Lieutenant Jitin Malkat. It was followed by the naval tableau titled ‘Indian Navy — Silent, Strong, and Swift’. Flight Lt Shrikant Sharma led the Air Force contingent, comprising 144 air warriors.
Stree Shakti was also in full display at the parade. The star attraction was Captain Tania Shergill, a fourth-generation army officer, who led an all-male Army contingent of 144 personnel, 2 JCOs and one officer. The 5-foot-10-inch-tall girl from Punjab’s Hoshiarpur was the first woman officer to be a parade adjutant on the Army Day parade in Delhi a few days ago. Major Sheena Nayyar, who is the first Army officer in her family, led a contingent of the transportable satellite terminal. The satellite system provides the fail-safe secure communication to the forces on the move. Women personnel were also part of the navy and air force marching contingents. At the end of the parade, an all-women team of CRPF showcased their daredevil skills on motorcycles.
For the first time, a DRDO missile used in last year’s ‘Mission Shakti’ anti-satellite weapon test, which put India in the elite counter-space capability club, was shown during the 90-minute parade.
A 155mm ‘make-in-India’ Dhanush gun, developed by Ordnance Factory Board, was also displayed for the first time during the parade. Initial clearance has been given for the bulk production of the 155mm indigenous gun. A model of fourth-generation multirole fighter jet Rafale, which France will be delivering to India in phases as per the Rs 59,000-crore deal for 36 aircraft, was part of the parade. A ‘Saravatra Bridge’ system, a five-metre short span bridge system and an air defence tactical control radar also made their debut.
A total of 22 tableax representing different states and ministries depicting the country’s rich cultural heritage and economic progress rolled down the Rajpath. The colourful tableax belonging to Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Telangana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, MP, Goa, Odisha, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, UP, Karnataka, J&K, Punjab, department of promotion of industry and internal trade, dept of financial services, NDRF, ministry of Jal Shakti, ministry of shipping showcasing the Kolkata Port Trust, which was recently rechristened as Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, and CPWD enthralled viewers. Forty-nine children, who are winners of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruaskar, rode open jeeps and waived at people. They were followed by four cultural performances by schoolchildren.
The flypast by IAF aircraft was unique this time as US-manufactured heavy-lift Chinook helicopters and deadliest attack helicopter Apaches, which were used in Iraq and Afghanistan war, flew for the first time over Rajpath in different formations. Both the imported helicopters were recently inducted into the IAF.
Dornier aircraft, C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, an Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft and the ‘Globe’ formation comprising three C-17 Globemasters spellbound the viewers with their performances. Five Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft and five MiG-29 upgrade air superiority fighters in ‘Arrowhead’ formation displayed their aerial manoeuvre. At the end, a fleet of Sukhoi-30 MKI jets split the sky with a breathtaking ‘Vertical Charlie’ aerobatic manoeuvre. The parade culminated with the release of tricolour balloons by the Indian Meterological Department.
Source link
