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India parades 21st century might and colours at Rajpath

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Impressive marching columns, a breathtaking flypast and a motorcycle show, and a parade of military might and heroes were the attractions of India's 52nd Republic Day parade, which presumably went off without any hiccups under unprecedented security.

If Kargil was the flavour, determination to fight the growing terrorist problem was the statement of the parade, emphasised with the presence of liberal Islamic leader and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as the chief guest.

From early morning, crowds, mostly villagers from areas bordering the Capital, began to flow into either side of Rajpath, the linear road running down from Raisina Hill to India Gate. Wading several security check-posts and crude body-checks, the crowds reached enclosures that were teeming with special forces and intelligence officers.

The parade, which began at 10 am, was preceded by laying of wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyothi, the eternal flame at India Gate in memory of martyred soldiers, by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The Guard Commander at the Jyoti, where the immortal soldier is depicted by a reversed rifle capped with a helmet, presented a Salami Shastr, Reverse Arms. And the bugles sounded the "Last Post".

Under tight security, the cavalcades of the three defence chiefs, defence minister and the Prime Minister moved to the dais reserved for the VVIPs, mid-way between the India Gate and the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The chief guest (the Algerian President), arrived with President KR Narayanan, led by a full ceremonial team of presidential guards mounted on horsebacks and a motorcade. An aside: the presidential bodyguards are drawn from the oldest regiment of the Indian Army and are considered the tallest among the world's soldiers. The horses are at least 15 hands tall, while men are a minimum of 6 feet each.

The traditional 21-gun-salute was then given to the President by the 81 Field Battery of the 12 Field Regiment. The colonial hangover was visible, the 25 pounders that went off were among the most versatile guns of World War II. These are now only used for ceremonies, especially for giving salute to visiting heads of states.

Then came the four MI-8 helicopters in 'Y formation' showering petals on the crowd. The lead helicopter flew the Indian tricolour, while the other three flew the flags of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The Parade got off in full force with the parade commander, Major General Vinod Bhanot, Vir Chakra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area riding ahead of the parade in an open jeep. Maj Gen Bhanot had won his Vir Chakra for his gallant action during 1971 Indo-Pak conflict during the Indian Army's successful attempt to protect the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway.

He was followed by Brigadier RL Singh, the Deputy General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, who took over the command of the parade from India Gate to Red Fort, about 10 kilometres away.

The commanders were followed by the four living Param Vir Chakra winners, of whom three are still serving in the Indian Army. They were followed by winners of PVC's peacetime equivalent, Ashok Chakra. And then there was the lone living Victoria Cross winner, who won it for the British Army during World War II.

The parade featured 61 Cavalry, the only surviving horsed cavalry in the world which last saw action during World War II. It was in Palestine during World War II that the cavalry won its battle honour Haifa, after it successfully carried out a horse-borne charge against the Turkish Army to take over Haifa region of Palestine. In fact, it was the last recorded horse cavalry charge in history.

The Main Battle Tank Arjun, which is indigenously developed but has failed to meet several demands of the Army, was paraded along with the Prithvi Missile, which has a range of over 150 kilometres and which is India's best bet for delivering nuclear weapons now.

Agni II, which has about 2,500 km range and which is presently undergoing test flights, is yet to be inducted into the Army.

The Bofors gun, which earned applauds at Kargil during Operation Vijay after suffering in silence for over a decade due to the scandal over its acquisition, too figured in the parade. But the commentators and all official notes on the gun did not mention the name Bofors even once. The terminology used was 155mm Field Howitzer 77B.

The Army also featured the paratroopers and para commandos, who are counted among the country's best special operations groups.

Marching contingents representing Bengal Engineering Group, which had won 11 Victoria Cross and 65 Military Cross from British, Madras Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, which today has five serving Lieutenant Generals and eight Major Generals in Army, Rajput Regiment, to which the first Army chief of Independent India Field Marshal KM Cariappa belonged, and others took part for Army.

The march contingent of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, which had won two of the four PVCs during Kargil operation, was led by Major Vikas Vohra who had won Vir Chakra during the same operation.

Marching contingent of Navy and Air Force featured one lady officer each-Sub Lieutenant Lalitha and Flight Lieutenant Pavidhi Singh. Singh is one of the few lady pilots in the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Navy put on display a model of its first submarine with a missile firing capability, INS Sindhu Shastra, and another plot on the International Fleet Review, which will take place in Bombay in February.

The IAF displayed its recently inducted, indigenously produced pilotless target aircraft Lakshya, fighter jets MIG-21 BIS and Jaguar, MI-35 helicopter among others.

Defence Research Development Organization displayed Sujav system, a compact communication electronic warfare system for spectrum monitoring and jamming, and Safari System, an electronic security system which can protect vehicular convoy against remote controlled explosives.

The parade also featured massed pipes and drums, showing off clearly India's colonial ceremonial systems.

Several contingents of the para-military units were also present in the parade. Among the attractions was the BSF camel band, the only camel-mounted band group in the world.

The National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, several schools in Delhi too participated with their marching contingents, bands and dance groups.

The parade also featured numerous colourful tableaux from several states and central government departments. Ironically, Jammu and Kashmir presented a tableau on Sufi traditions, espousing peace and communal harmony.

Towards the end of the parade, stunts and formations on motorcycles were displayed by the Tornadoes of the Army Service Corps, that finds a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for its human pyramid of 181 men on 11 motorcycles.

The Parade ended with a stunning flypast called the Big Boy Formation comprising the massive IL-76 transport aircraft, two An-32 and two Dornier aircraft.

A Vic formation of three Sukhoi-30s, two groups of Jaguar aircraft in shockwave formation too figured in the flypast. The last item was a Vertical Charlie, by Squadron Leader U Rakhra. He flew in a Sukhoi-30 and roared into the sky in front of the VIP dais and executed overturns and disappeared into the sky.

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