‘Nari Shakti’ leads Republic Day parade for the first time
The Republic Day parade highlighted the involvement of women in all spheres of India's economy, including the country's armed forces. Notably, the contingents of the CAPF created history by being entirely comprised of women personnel.
In a landmark moment for India, the 75th Republic Day parade featured an unprecedented display of women empowerment and gender inclusivity in all spheres of India's economy, including the country's armed forces. The historic event saw all-women tri-service contingents marching down the Kartavaya Path, symbolising a significant stride towards equality.
The parade showcased the participation of women in various roles, including ground troops and pilots, reflecting the commitment to women's empowerment in the Indian Armed Forces. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) contingents also made history by being exclusively composed of women personnel.
Over 100 women artists playing traditional Indian musical instruments heralded the parade, adding a cultural touch to the celebration. Notably, the Delhi Police witnessed its first-ever all-women marching contingent.
Captain Sandhya Mahla led the all-women tri-service marching contingent, while Major Divya Tyagi made history by leading an all-men contingent of the Bombay Sappers, also known as Bombay Engineer Group and Centre. The Indian Army also featured an all-women Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, headed by Major Srishti Khullar, showcasing diverse roles within the military.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent, consisting of 144 airmen and four officers, was led by Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur. The Indian Coast Guard contingent, known as the 'Sentinels of our Seas,' was led by Assistant Commandant Chunauti Sharma.
Lieutenants Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda, part of the Regiment of Artillery, led the 'Swathi' weapon locating radar and Pinaka rocket system.
The parade also featured the participation of over 200 women personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), with Constable Sosa Alpaben leading the CRPF band.
The tableau themed "Women Power in protecting the nation by providing the defence technologies in all five dimensions" showcased women's contributions to research and development. The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) tableau, led by scientist Sunita Jena, highlighted women's empowerment.
The tableaus of different states including Odisha, Manipur, Jharkhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, etc, showcased the state’s self-reliance and women's progressiveness and empowerment.
Furthermore, there were 265 women on motorcycles, symbolising 'Nari Shakti'.
CRPF, BSF, and SSB women bikers exhibited Indian values, including yoga. Inspector Promila Sethi and 21 others showcased the tech edge, while CT Anupam and 15 others represented women securing the borders. Inspector Sehnaaz Khatoon and 13 others represented women in the country's hinterland.
A 200-strong female volunteers' contingent of National Service Scheme (NSS) also marched down Kartavya Path. The contingent marched under the command of Ragina Tamang from Sikkim, Regional Directorate of NSS, Guwahati.
The NSS has 3.9 million volunteers in its fold, drawn from 657 universities, 51 directorates and two councils, 20,669 colleges and institutions of higher learning and 11,998 senior secondary schools.
The grand celebration, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest, carried the overarching theme of projecting the nation's women's power and democratic values. The diverse representation in the parade underscored India's commitment to inclusivity and recognised the vital role of women in various aspects of national security and development.
Edited by Kanishk Singh