This Republic Day Parade You Will See INA Veterans, Jets On BioFuel For The First Time

India¡¯s 70th Republic Day parade this Saturday will have many firsts ¡ª participation of four veterans from Netaji¡¯s Indian National Army (INA), march by an all-women paramilitary contingent, display of new artillery guns and IAF jets flying on biofuel. The star attraction of the parade will be the participation of the four INA veterans, who are in the 95 to 99 age group. Bringing the INA veterans to limelight is interesting keeping in view that the country had last year commemorated the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Azad Hind ¡®sarkar¡¯.

The four veterans ¡ª Parmanand (99), Laltiram (98), Hira Singh (97) and Bhaagmal (95)¡ª who are all from Haryana, will get a pride of place in a jeep that will be in the parade sequence immediately after Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardees. Veepak, the grandson of Laltiram, told TOI, ¡°Dadaji is very happy that this government is recognising the efforts and sacrifices of INA veterans by giving them honour.¡±

TOI

The 98-year-old had presented a Netaji cap to PM Modi during an event on Netaji at Red Fort in October last year. In another first, the Army will showcase its new artillery guns at the parade 30 years after the induction of Bofors guns. Major General Rajpal Punia, second-in-command of the parade, said, ¡°M777 A2 ultralight howitzers, which were inducted into the Army last year from the US, will be seen at the parade for the first time. Another artillery K9 Vajra self-propelled guns, which are being manufactured by L&T under the ¡®Make in India¡¯ programme will also be shown at the parade.¡± "During the flypast, IAF¡¯s AN-32 aircraft will be flying on bio fuel for the first time.

¡°Sankhnaad¡¯¡ª a martial tune created for the armed forces¡ª will be played by three military bands for the first time in the parade,¡± Major Gen Punia said, adding "the theme of 22 tableaux this time will be 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi¡±. The parade will also showcase the Army¡¯s women power. For the first time, an all-women contingent of a paramilitary force ¡ª Assam Rifles¡ª will participate. Major Khushboo Kanwar, who will lead the contingent, told TOI, ¡°The oldest paramilitary started inducting women in the force since 2015. Today, there are 220 mahila riflemen. The contingent is special as some of the women are vir mahilas (widows of martyr soldiers) who are continuing the legacy of their husbands.¡±

Reuters

Major Khushboo, whose husband is also an Army officer and has a daughter, said, ¡°I belong to a conservative family from Rajasthan and my father was a bus conductor. I had done most of my studies on scholarships. If I can be part of the majestic R-Day parade with sheer hard work and dedication, any girl can fulfil her dream.¡± In another first, a woman officer will be part of the Army¡¯s ¡®Daredevils¡¯ motorcycle team. Captain Shikha Surabhi will perform the stunt by standing on a moving motorcyle and will ride it in front of a team comprising 33 men riding on nine bikes in pyramid formation.

PTI

In another display of ¡®naari shakti¡¯, Lt Bhavana Kasturi will lead an all-male contingent of Army Service Corps (ASC), which is participating in the parade after a gap of 23 years. Lt Bhavana Kasturi told TOI, ¡°Nobody from my family has ever served in the Army officer. I am a first-generation officer inducted in the Army in 2016. But my family has always motivated me and empowered me. Clearing a tough selection procedure to get a chance to lead a contingent of 144 men shows there is no gender bias in the Army.¡± In a message to girls, she said, ¡°I want to tell young girls of the country that ¡®chase your dreams and never give up and you¡¯ll reach great heights¡¯.¡±