AS THE armed forces started their march-past before the cheering spectators at Rajghat on Thursday (yesterday) on the eve of 63^rd Republic Day parade, students of Scottish High International Schools brought the celebrations to Gurgaon. Dedicating themselves to honour and enhance the ideals enshrined in the Indian constitution, highlanders from the sixth grade performed the customary march-past and the Principal Sudha Goyal hoisted the National Flag and inspected the ceremonial Guard of Honour.

To foster peace and harmony, the school choir rendered the rousing song 'World Anthem' and also mellifluously sang the National Song 'Vande Mataram'. A speech highlighting the significance of Republic Day and the historical relevance of the date of 26th January was also given, according to school press release.

Besides the customary celebrations of the Republic Day, the school also commemorated India’s National Voter’s Day that was celebrated across the country on 25^th January for the second consecutive year. “The students of Grade -9- IGCSE presented a topical play on the significance of every vote and to elect a responsible representative to secure a prosperous India,” according to release.

The central government has started an ad-campaign across the country to reach to people so that they understand the significance of their votes. a hit Bollywood song, ‘wake up sid’ is being played out by all radio stations to inform people about their voting responsibilities. The emphasis is being laid to empower people that even a single vote matters in a true democracy and attempts are being made to inform them that a single vote can change the future of democracy.

Rallies, awareness camps and seminars were held across the country on 25^th January to get the message across the board that if India has to keep to its image of largest democracy in the world, voting has to be exercised by all its citizens without fail. Holding of seminars or assemblies in schools at least once a week is a step in the right direction, as argued by many students and teachers. “If we observe Voting day in schools or hold assemblies on the issue, younger generation will get to know about the significance of votes and they will impress upon people in their home to participate in the election process,” said Moushmi Sharma, a Journalism student.