NEW DELHI, 27 January 2004 — India’s Republic Day celebrated amid tight security arrangements was marked by a grand display of India’s multi-cultural heritage and the progress made by the country.
The Republic Day parade was held for the first time in years against a backdrop of sharply improving ties with rival Pakistan.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam arrived at Rajpath accompanied by the visiting Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was the chief guest at the parade.
Security forces remained on red alert to guard against any attacks by militants fighting New Delhi’s rule in Indian Kashmir, the trigger for two out of three wars between India and Pakistan.
Despite peace moves by India and Pakistan, which last November began a cease-fire along the military line dividing Kashmir between the countries and a decision to resume talks next month after nearly going to war in 2002, security officials have said the militants will keep up their deadly assaults.
Police said they were scouring the sprawling metropolis of 14 million people for eight guerrillas, believed to be accomplices of three suspected militants seized Sunday along with a big cache of explosives who authorities said had planned to attack the parade.
Tens of thousands of police officers, commandos and paramilitary troopers guarded the city which became a no-fly zone for commercial planes during the three-hour marathon which bristled with nuclear-capable missiles that could strike neighboring Pakistan and China.
President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee sat behind bullet-proof glass as they reviewed the annual parade which marks democratic India’s transition to a republic in 1950.
Newly-acquired T-90 tanks along with indigenously-designed Agni-II (Fire) and the Prithvi (Earth) nuclear-capable missiles were featured in the parade that set off from the grand British-built presidential palace and covered an eight-kilometer distance.
The parade began with a ceremonial gun salute and ended with a deafening fly-past by Russian-made MiG-29 and Sukhoi-30 frontline planes as thousands of Indian tricolored flags fluttered.
Rated among the best in the world, the T-90 tanks “Bhishma,” another latest induction into the army, rolled down the Rajpath followed by contingent of T-72 “Ajeya” tanks and Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun.
Along with the military hardware, the event featured 13 mechanized military columns and 18 army marching squads, cavalry on horses and camels and military bands along with colorful floats highlighting India’s cultural diversity.
Despite the heavy security, the border cease-fire with Pakistan allowed Indian combat troops to leave their bunkers and celebrate Republic Day for the first time in decades in Kashmir, officials said.
Soldiers in battle fatigues hoisted the flag, exchanged sweets and greeted each other ahead of the much anticipated langar or ceremonial dinner to mark the day.
Civilians living in frontier villages, heavy-hit by cross-border shelling, also took advantage of the truce.
“When I came to know the troops were celebrating Republic Day I took my children to a border outpost to participate in the function,” said Tara Chand of Suchet Garh, a village near the border.
Highlights
Among the highlights of India’s Republic Day celebrations, President Abdul Kalam’s special concern for children must not be overlooked.
At the traditional “At Home” reception yesterday, he took time to meet and converse with several blind students who had been invited to attend.
When asked what had impressed him most about the celebrations, he said, “The young people smiling. Young people smiling means India smiling.”
His concern for children stood out in his message on the eve of Republic Day. He administered an oath to the children and emphasized that each one had a goal to achieve.
The oath was, “I will pursue my education or work with dedication and I will excel in it. From now on, I will teach at least 10 persons who cannot read and write to read and write. I will not support any religious, caste or language differentiation.
I will always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and will work to make them feel like the rest of us. I will proudly celebrate the success of my country and my people.”
