NEW DELHI: 122-member Bangladesh quota, two IAF female pilots, recently acquired Rafales multifunction fighter jets, troops deployed to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and a cadre from the newly formed Ladakh UT were among the highlights of the 72nd Republic Day. parade on Rajpath on Tuesday.
However, for the first time in more than five decades, the parade did not have any foreign dignitaries as the main guest, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson canceled his visit due to the Covid situation in his country. Also, there was no participation from military veterans and motorcycle daredevils who used to be one of the main attractions of the parade in recent years. Due to Covid restrictions, even the route of the marching contingents was shortened to the National Stadium instead of the Red Fort. Even the size of the marching contingents was reduced from 144 regulars to 96 to maintain social distancing among staff while masks were made mandatory for them.
Despite the restrictions caused by Covid, there was no lack of enthusiasm among viewers. The armed forces showcased their latest weapons such as T-90 tanks, Brahmos missile system, Pinaka multi-launch rocket system, T-72 bridge-laying tank, integrated communication electronic warfare system, and an improved Schilka weapon system. Some of these systems are currently in place in Ladakh to prevent any Chinese incursion.
Two awardees from Param Vir Chakra and one Ashok Chakra participated in this parade, led by the parade commander, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, the Delhi area commanding general officer, and his second-in-command, Major General Alok Kacker , Delhi area chief of staff.
The 122 members of Bangladesh’s military personnel marched in two groups: a marching contingent and a military band. The marching contingent was made up of personnel from three services and was headed by a flight lieutenant, a marine lieutenant, a major, and three lieutenant colonels. This was the third time that India hosted a foreign contingent to participate in the parade after French troops in 2016 and UAE personnel in 2017.
Seventeen marching contingents of the armed forces, paramilitaries, Delhi Police, NSG, NCC and NSS along with 15 military bands participated in the parade. The Indian army was represented by a mounted column of 61 cavalry, seven mechanized columns, and six marching contingents.
The contingent of 172 Madras from the Andamans also participated in the parade for the first time. “For the first time, any contingent from the islands (A&N) is participating in such a big event on the mainland and therefore the children are very excited. More than 95% of the staff are locals belonging to different tribes. Our unit, which is part of the Madras Regiment, was raised for the children of the earth and its goal is to create a robust intelligence in the area. The contingent consisted of 96 troops, 2 JCOs and an officer, Major Verma said.
Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, who became the first female combat pilot to participate in the parade, waved in front of President Ram Nath Kovind as her IAF painting featured mock-ups of an LCA, light combat helicopter and fighter Sukhoi loaded with Indian-made missiles passed through the VVIP compound.
The picture of the Indian Navy showed models of the Indian warship (INS) Vikrant and the naval operations that took place during the 1971 Indian-Pakistani war. The DRDO displayed two charts, one showing the successful takeoff from Texas of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, and another showing the full complement of anti-tank guided missile systems.
A total of 28 pictures from different states and departments shot Rajpath. Among them was the Ladakh painting that made its debut in the parade. It represented the iconic Thikse Monastery, the region’s rich cultural heritage, and Ladakh’s vision to be carbon neutral. The UP box showed a model of the upcoming Ram Temple and the Department of Biotechnology box showed the indigenous production of Covid vaccines highlighting India’s self-reliance in fighting the pandemic. While the electronics and IT ministry chart was inspired by the theme ‘Digital India, Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat’, the labor ministry chart showed the segments that benefited the most from the ‘labor codes’.
The centerpiece of the 90-minute parade was the IAF’s display of the country’s aerial prowess amid LAC’s clash with China. An old Dakota plane that had sent troops to ‘save’ Srinagar from the attack by the Pakistani army backed tribal militia in 1947 and also played a key role in the Bangladesh liberation war, it also flew over Rajpath. Another IAF pilot, Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore, was honored to be the first woman to be a part of this year’s flight when she flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter. A total of 42 aircraft flew in different formations, but all eyes were on the Rafale fighter when it performed a “vertical charlie” at the end of the flypast. In addition to two Rafales, Sukhoi-30, MiG-29, Apache and Chinook helicopters also caught the attention of the visitors.
In video: Republic Day 2021: the Rafale jet showtopper on flypast
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