India showcases military, culture in Republic Day parade

NEW DELHI - India showcased its military and cultural diversity in a colourful parade on Thursday at the revamped colonial avenue in New Delhi to mark Republic Day, the anniversary of the day the country’s secular Constitution came into effect in 1950.

Several thousand people watched the parade from seats around Kartavya Path – or path of duty – braving the cold on a foggy morning in New Delhi, while millions more watched on television.

Known as Rajpath since independence, and as King’s Way during British colonial rule, the ceremonial central boulevard was renamed in September 2022.

Accompanied by marching bands, troops from the country’s military, border and police forces marched in perfect synchronisation towards the dais where Indian President Droupadi Murmu took the salute.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the chief guest for the event, and 144 soldiers from the Arab nation’s armed forces also participated.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief of defence staff and the three service chiefs were also present at the parade, which featured more women in the military contingents.

“We will move together to fulfil the dreams of the heroes of our freedom movement,” Mr Modi wrote on Twitter to mark the occasion.

Thursday’s event was the latest of several ceremonies commemorating 75 years since the end of British colonial rule last August.

The country’s rich and diverse heritage was showcased in vibrant tableaux from different states and ministries, highlighting the central theme of “nari shakti”, or women power.

The army’s tableaux comprised only locally made weapons, reflecting the country’s drive to become more self-reliant in the defence sector.

The event climaxed with a flypast by 45 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, with French-made Rafales, Russian-made Su-30s and the Indian-made Tejas fighter jets putting on an impressive aeronautical display.

But foggy weather spoilt the spectacle, as spectators struggled to catch a glimpse of the aircraft as they roared overhead.

India has benefited in recent years from increasing economic heft and diplomatic clout that have raised its position in global affairs.

However, Mr Modi’s government is grappling with the urgent task of overhauling its outdated armed forces.

Its military establishment is fretting over a growing assertiveness by China along its vast Himalayan frontier, which in 2019 sparked a lingering diplomatic freeze after a deadly high-altitude confrontation between troops of both countries.

India unveiled its first locally built aircraft carrier in 2022

as part of government efforts to build an indigenous defence industry and reduce reliance on Russia, historically its most important arms supplier.

An effort to reform military recruitment to trim India’s bloated defence payroll stalled in 2022 after a backlash from aspiring soldiers, who burned train carriages and clashed with police in heated protests. REUTERS, AFP