Memories of Republic Day: the ones in uniform speak

Every year, on January 26, India celebrates its Republic Day - the day the Constitution of India came into effect.

This year, South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa has been invited as the chief guest for the ceremony.

For most of us, Republic Day is a day to watch the grand parades on television. Last year, over 38 million people viewed it on TV and it is poised to be much more this year.

YS Weekender caught up with some officers of the armed forces to find out how they feel about the Republic Day and the magnificent parade. While some of them wished to remain incognito, their passion about the occasion shines through…

Colonel Varun Bajpai

Colonel Varun Bajpai says that Republic Day has always held a special place in his heart. “Having been in the army for 17 years, I have had the most amazing experiences,” he says. “The most special thing about Republic Day is undoubtedly the parade. Participants start rehearsing weeks in advance and it is a matter of great pride to be marching in the national capital amid enthusiastic cheers of the audience.”

According to Varun, rehearsals start as early as the first week of January. “A contingent commander directs each group and the participants need to be extremely attentive and synchronised,” he adds. “I had the honour of marching with my regiment on Rajpath as an NCC cadet during my college days. The experience was nothing short of absolute ecstasy. It was a dream come true to be chosen among thousands of cadets to represent the Corps.”

Varun is now working with Sainik School in JhunJhunu.

“It’s disheartening to see that many people have come to regard Republic Day as a regular holiday and not a celebration. I find that many other nations still uphold their national spirit with pride. Promoting our Republic Day as an important celebration will build an ethos of respect for the nation. People must not forget that freedom comes at a cost.”

A Brigadier, Artillery Regiment

“Independence Day may represent the exit of the British from our country, but Republic Day represents the building of a nation,” says a Brigadier from the Artillery Regiment. “The parade is divided into two segments. One is the display of our military might (all three forces) and the other part of the parade depicts the cultural and social diversity of our nation. As a military man, I believe it is very important for our nation to show our might.”

According to him, this display of power is a proud moment for every Indian. “Many battalions, regiments and corps take part in the parade,” he says. “People are selected according to their weight and height to form the parading regiment so that uniformity is maintained.”

He also shares a very special memory, “My most memorable Republic Day was when the Bofors weaponry was displayed during the parade which we used in Kargil.”

This year, a special feature of the parade will be the K9 Vajra and the M777 ultra-light Howitzer that have recently been acquired. “K9 Vajra is now being produced in India as part of the ‘Make in India’ campaign. This year will also see an all-woman contingent in the parade. Our Republic Day continues to instill a sense of pride in our hearts and will never lose its significance,” he says.

Dhruv Joshi, Air Force aspirant

Among the younger ones, Dhruv Joshi who has just been selected into the Air Force Academy, is excited about watching the Republic Day parade in a new light.

“Marching was a regular part of my school days,” he remembers, “We were taught to march properly very early on and I took part in the parade in my school every year. It was a very disciplined life within the cantonment walls.”

As his father was in the Army, Dhruv has changed his school several times over the years. He says, “My father was constantly being transferred to various parts of the country. This makes army kids like me much more adaptable. I think it helped me mature fast, take things as they came and move on.”

Dhruv’s training with the Air Force Academy will start in June this year and by then, he will also become an engineer. His excitement knows no bounds.

Alpana Barthwal, former Army captain

Army Captain Alpana Barthwal believes that Republic Day stands for the patriotism of every citizen of the nation. “It represents the pride and courage that helped us to become a nation,” she says, “I had the honour of marching in the Republic Day parade as part of the Army Ordnance Corps. It was an immense boost to my morale. It is a very competitive event and every contingent wants to be the best performer.”

According to Alpana, the rehearsal schedule was very gruelling. “We would start practice every day at around 5:30 in the morning,” she remembers. “We would have a strict exercise regimen to train our shoulders to lift the weight of the guns while marching.”

The parade ends at Red Fort. “During the march, we are allowed to take two water breaks. I have also taken part in the Army Day Parade before the Republic Day Parade.”

She believes that the enthusiasm for Republic Day has increased by leaps and bounds in recent years. “It was astonishing to see so many people flocking to watch the dress rehearsal this year,” she says. 

When asked about the all-woman contingent this year, Alpana says, “Once the uniform is worn, only your ability should matter."