India showcases military prowess and cultural heritage on R-Day

New Delhi, Jan 26: India today showcased its military, economic and scientific might and cultural diversity with a majestic and colourful parade at the historic Rajpath, marking the country's 58th Republic Day celebrations.

While the parade ceremony commenced under a tight security net at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' at India Gate where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath, President A P J Abdul Kalam unfurled the tricolour and took the salute at the Rajpath.

As Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Chief Guest at the 58th Republic Day, watched in rapt attention, Major General P C Bhardwaj, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, commanded the marching contingents of the Armed Forces.

Capt Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, grandson of the Sultan of Malaysian state of Johar, led the mounted column of the Jaipur-based 61st Cavalry.

The Army contingent, besides the mounted column of 61 Cavalry, also had nine mechanised columns, eight marching contingents and two tableaux. Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter of the Army's aviation wing conducted a flypast.

T-72 tanks, fitted with Thermal Imaging Stand Alone Sight (TISAS), Tactical Control Reporter Radar, Mobile Decontaminatiom Station, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and the Army Wide Area Network (AWAN) on mobile mode formed part of its contingent.

Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missiles, Bofors, Multi-Barrel Rocket Launching System - Pinaka, Indigenous PMS Bridge vehicle, BMP-II with TISAS, Bridge Laying Tanks, Ex-Tanks, NAG, Akash and the Weapon Locating Radar were its other additions.

The Parachute Regiment Contingent and tableaux of Remount and Veterinary Corps and World Military Games 2007, besides five band contingents to provide music, were also part of its display.

Featuring 'sports' for the first time in its Defence pageantry, 'Bravo' -- the mascot for the 4th CISM World Military Games 2007 -- was also displayed in the Army's tableau along with other sports disciplines like judo, wrestling and football. Around 127 countries will participate in the Games, being hosted by India this year at Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Many Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees, both serving and retired, also participated in the parade.

The 144-member contingent of the Indian Navy, through its tableau highlighting various facets of Network Centric Operations, carried the message -- that the present year is the year of Networking for Efficiency and Combat Power.

The revolving globe in the centre of the tableau represented its quest for Maritime Domain Awareness, the concept model of the Naval Communication Satellite, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground Control Station indicated its surveillance efforts.

The models of its newer acquisitions --Talwar ship, IL-38 aircraft and Scorpene submarine-- were also part of its contingent.

To match its 'Touch the Sky with Glory' motto in its platinum jubilee year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) introduced for the first time the indigenously developed radar Indra II and UAV Searcher II this morning.

With a contingent of 148 airmen, including four officers, the IAF showcased the newly inducted Indian Doppler Radar II (Indra II), designed for tactical application in the Air Defence Network and the medium altitude-medium endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for high risk missions.

While Indra II, due to its high mobilty order and low deployment time, makes it ideal for tactical application, the Searcher II is capable of carrying day-night electro optical payloads which can transmit imagery for effective high risk missions.

The IAF contingent also displayed its Platinum Jubilee Logo at the parade depicting its growth and development from the era of Wapiti to the Su 30 KI. Marching contingents of para-military and other auxiliary civil forces included those of the Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and the National Service Scheme. The camel-mounted band and contingent of the BSF was an added attraction.

Adding to the parade colour were tableaux of the Military World Games - 2007, Border Surveillance, Remount Veterinary Corps and Networking.

Riding elephants 21 children, including 12 girls who received the National Bravery Awards for 2006, graced the parade.

Among them were 13-and-a-half-year-old Vandana Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) -- who received the prestigious Geeta Chopra Award for braving 17 stab wounds while fending off attackers and recepients of the Bapu Gayadhani Awards -- Asma Ayyub Khan (13 -Maharashtra) who helped shift about 40 children of her school to a place of safety during Mumbai floods, Sushila Gurjar (13 - Rajasthan) for protesting against child marriage and Shilpa Janbandhu (15 -Chhattisgarh) for joining the anti-Naxal programme.

In all 24 children received this year's National Bravery Awards, three of which were conferred posthumously including the Sanjay Chopra Award which was conferred on V Teja Sai (12) and C V S Durga Doondieswar (13) of Andhra Pradesh (both posthumously) for saving four of their school mates from drowning in a river.

Nearly 1,200 school children participated in the cultural pageant, which was led by a band playing the 'Ek Tara' tune and followed by flag-bearers holding flags of the country's various regions.

A dance, calling on millions of children deprived of education to begin life anew, formed part of the children's show.

Other presentations by the children included the 'shaan-e-watan' dance depicting the importance of the national flag and the 'kathputli' dance which showcased the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

Another attraction was the motorcycle display by the Corps of Military Police's Shwet Ashwa Group which exhibited breathtaking stunts through a magnificent synergistic display of mind, body and machine.

Also, depicting the multi-hued cultural and historical heritage of India were tableaux from 18 states and union territories; and eight from various ministries and departments.

While the Delhi tableau depicted 'Stree Shakti' and Uttar Pradesh 'Start of 1857 Revolt', the Ministry of Railways had 'Water Trains for Desert Areas in Rajasthan/Gujarat', Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had 'Say No To Drugs' and the Ministry of Culture '100 Years of Satyagraha' as its theme.

The Su 30 MKIs, Jaguars, MIG 29s and IL-78 Air-to-Air Refuellers were popular with their spectacular flypast at the parade finale.

While IL-78s and Sukhoi 30 MKIs came in 'Tanker' formation, the Jaguars and MIG 29s made an 'Arrow-head' formation.

The parade, which began at 1000 hrs from Rajpath, took one hour and 42 minutes to reach Red Fort.

UNI