The 63rd Republic Day impresses with several firsts
On a beautiful sunny day, India displayed its cultural diversity and military might on the occasion of the 63rd Republic Day on January 26. For the first time a woman officer lead the Indian Air Force contingent, becoming the first woman pilot to do so. An interesting entrant in the tableau category was the Election Commission.
THE SIXTY third Republic Day of
India was special for many reasons. The Chief Guest of the parade was the first woman Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra. She was the third leader from South East Asia to have chosen so consecutively. The Republic Day march-past was witnessed by Vice President Hamid Ansari, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, and President
Pratibha Patil. Before the parade began, the prime minister and the three service chiefs laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' at India Gate.
This was followed by a 21-gun salute, the unfurling of the national tricolour, and the President presenting Ashok Chakra - the highest peacetime gallantry award - posthumously to Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, reported NDTV. Singh was killed while engaging Pakistan-based terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Thereafter, four Mi-17 helicopters flew in from the western side of Raisina Hill, and showered flower petals on the spectators gathered to witness the parade - this indicating the start of the parade.
The eight kilometre long parade path was lit up when Sneha Shekhawat belonging from Sikar region in Rajasthan created history when she led, assisted by three other woman flying officers, the 144-strong Air Force contingent, which marched smartly in front of the glittering array of guests and visitors.
There was a lot of buzz when the successfully tested Agni-IV went past President Patil as she took the salute acknowledging the missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear missiles. The prestigious Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) displayed, for the first time, the 150km range tactical battlefield support missile named as Prahar and Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
The elite organisation also put on display for the first time the 150 km range Prahaar Tactical Battlefield Support Missile and the indigenously designed Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Out of the 23 tableaux one that stood out was one by the Election Commission. The tableau featured a massive model of electronic voting machine and signages encouraging young Indians to caste their votes. The Republic Day celebrations concluded after the fly past by Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircrafts, which carried out a 'Vertical Charlie' maneuver over the dais used by the president.
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