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An embarrassing number of seats in the stands now go empty, as invitees are daunted by the stringent security regulations. For the aam janata, a trip to watch the parade ends up as an almost day-long expedition. Buses and taxis are off the road and one has to leave the house by dawn to reach the venue on time.
Besides, the familiar formula of the parade is getting stale. An endless procession of regiments, bands, cavalry, antiquated artillery tanks and modern missiles, interspersed with schoolchildren and tableaux. Still, when Doordarshan was our only source of entertainment, our Republic Day mornings were spent watching the parade on TV. But with 60 odd channels to chose from, seeing the parade is no longer the ritual that it once was.
For Delhi residents, the fortnight leading up to Republic Day is a nightmare of traffic jams and hold-ups. Thanks to partial rehearsals, full dress rehearsals or simply tanks moving down Lutyens main arteries, life in the Capital is thrown out of gear. The security measures over the last few years have only increased the problem.
Even the cost of the whole operation is mind boggling. A substantial proportion of the armed forces budget is diverted from November 1 onwards towards preparing for the mammoth exercise. Beginning January, the Delhi Police is focused on the parade and not the city's law and order. On D Day, 196 companies of the Delhi Police and 55 companies of central paramilitary forces, consisting of some 35,000 policemen, are on duty. As well as some 800 commandos.
Disbanding the parade totally may be too radical a step. But perhaps one can think of staging the mammoth show once every two or three years. And could we perhaps cut down on the endless marching columns and add some innovative touches? Maybe even include film stars, sportspersons and glamour to revive our flagging interest.
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Perhaps keeping in with the global recessionary trend and the vehicular restrictions the Republic Day Parad - if at all held - could held once in five years.
you are talking about controlling crimesa in the CAPITAL. Well I think 26th January is the only day you do not hear about any crimes being commited beacuse the cops are really at work.The other days when the city is gripped in rapes,robbery and criminal attacks,the cops are probably off-duty. So its good for them to get out and stretch once in a year!!
I finally get to conclude my comment in this 3rd part...So occasions like this and rare terrorist attacks like the one in MUMBAI where we saw the commandos at work probably for the first time in my life at least.If nothing else INDIAN can at least talk about their grand parade which is held only once a year.JAI HIND!
For the AAM JANTA 26th is the day they get to see their country's MILITARY and ARMY strength and their soldiers marching past the PRESIDENT AND THE PM with pride in their heart. I till date always don my self in white Kurta and wear the INDIAN Flag badge which are sold cheap in subways and footpaths.It gives us a feeling of INDIANNESS and the immense joy of having watched the beautiful JHANKIYAS presented by each state and dances by school children. Where else do you get to learn about all the states in INDIA?In spite of the more that 60 channels hovering around,everyone is glued to DD because that's the only channel still which covers the entire PARADE so well!And about the 5,000 policemen, some 800 commandos which you mention are on duty,well good for them at least they get to work and serve their nation once in a year.Other times you hardly see them except on PAN THELAS and CHAI THELAS or at the TRAFFIC LIGHTS stopping people unnecessarily .
Hmm traffic jams,that too in Delhi. Isn't that a very common sight to watch and experience. So do you want to blame it the Republic day parade? VIP's and VVIP"s passing through any traffic light block the traffic everyday so what if one more day goes by seeing the same jam and that too for the Republic day spirit.Are you saying the people of DELHI do not know by now to take alternate routes on such occasion? Well they very well do.Most of the work places are closed so where are people stuck in Traffic jams headed to on the 26th JAN? Of course to see the parade. And who in the world gave you the idea that no one cares for the PARADE anymore.Well WE ALL INDIAN DO.AND WILL ALWAYS DO. This is the only day which we look forward to the whole year.I wish we could have Parades on 15th August too. If you go in the west and in Europeans nations parade is a very common site not just once a year in the capital but several times a year held in different counties and cities.
There is no justified reason to say we should not celebrate Republic Day. Ms Kapoor and many others here who think it's a waste of time,money and resources probably doesn't take pride in celebrating a day dedicated to Nation. I dont know the exact budget for parade but it cant be more than 500 cr i guess and we are cribbing over this small sum which we can easliy afford. As far as inconvinience to people is concerned i think it happens everywhere in world where they celebrate national holidays, it's a small price for all the pride we can take from it. We spend so much money in celebrating other festivals but when it comes to 26th Jan some people are saying it's a waste of money. And the idea to let film stars and cricketers march is really ridiculous. It's a serious affair let's not make it a matter of debate or criticism. This day whole of India can take pride brushing aside our religious,regional and other identities and stand as Indians. Jai Hind
For the Next Republic Day we should Nuke Pakistan and terrorize their pathetic moon worshipping population. Just because America has now got a dhimmi President does not mean we have to change our stance. The majority of Indians hate Pakistani people and their so called 'arab culture'. For people to take arabs seriously and literally shows a fundamental inferiority complexon their part. Arabs are known to be inferior oil drinking women beating people. If the West had not extracted their oil for them and built the cars for them they would still be drinking oil, because they had no idea what that 'black stuff' was. Indians should shun the false beliefs that have been emanating from that region. Those beliefs will soon prove to be false in the very near future. Back to the point, I did not watch the Republic Day parade because I felt that it was a waste of time. We need to procure weapons and develop local defence capabilities on a war footing.
The Parade on our Republic Day is the parade of our national pride, progress in various fields and our cultural heritage. It is not an entertainment function having frivilous cine artists and the jokers. In any case we have such functions round the year on the TV.I agree that in an a democracy , every one has their opinion. But, we all should start taking pride in our national ahievements. Little inconvenience such as traffic jams due to parade rehearsals has been quoted by Ms Coomi Kapoor as major reason to do away with this annual pledge of our national committment. What about the traffic jams due to various political/religious rallies? Will Ms Kapoor dare to suggest banning them? No, because she will have the lashing by religious and political organisation. She has also qouted about May Day rallies in some countries. But she has forgotten how the western world respect annually it's soldiers who died in WW-I and WW-II.Let's put nation FIRST before SELF for a change.
Coomi, you have raised a very important issue, which is why are we so hung up on symbolisms? Personally, I am surprised that the nation of Gandhi needs to parade armaments like some tin poy dictatorship. The second issue is relevance and costs? Do we need to shut down Delhi airpot for half a day for August 15, Jan 26 and, hold your breadth, Air Force Day! We cant pretend to be in the 21st century, a putative superpower and have such a revanchist attitudes. For heavens sake, the IAF can show off its planes at Jaisalmer. So, thanks for this very thought provoking piece.
Who is this pig shit Coomi.. Whats her problem.. Why does she want actors for Republic day celebrations.. Will she be happy if our slut bollywood heroines dance showing lot of skin instead of Soldiers..? I dont where from such nuts come..
Probably this lady wrote this article after Sunday booze! Else, why do we need some high class escorts at Republic day parade!The law and order can be controlled by closing pub and drug dens in Delhi! In fact good education and employment should reduce crime!
We do not need the parade. If country men do not think that they are Indians first, no parade can make them believe that way. We are wasting a lot of time and money. We should be more concentratng on security. Whatever Pakistan govt. may say the Pakistan Govt. and Pakistanis have always thought that they can humble us. Pakistan cares too hoots for eighteen crores Indian muslims . Pakistan thinks that they can find some muslims in india to go with them and do harm to India.In then we would like to submit that please stop the parade and conentrate more on security. incidentally, there was a report that wife, children, and the father of an awardee of Ashoke chakra were not permitted to attend the Prersident's reception. You would do good to let the concerned staff know, what Ashoke Chakra means.
save money on something you are ashamed of like root out corruption, not something you are proud of like this parade, i will like even to do better on this. remember there is something which keeps us bonded this is one of those. save on polition rallies on name or cast and religin.thanks
We celebrate just one day of the year in the name of our mother nation and you people are all over it to criticize? If you don’t want to celebrate our RD then what else you want to celebrate?? Do you think 300 crores even come close to what we people collectively spend celebrating various religious festivals all the year around.???
We have too many hollow celebrations
Ms.Kapoor is wrong. The Nation needs a public celebration of something. It bring us together as a Nation. When India develops the concept of large scale celebrations for the public funded privately, like the Macys Thanks Giving day parade, which is entirely private, we can do away with this function. We must have more functions that are a common theme for all Indians. The police mismanagement is another problem. They should participate as well as do their duties as in developed countries.
Republic Day Parade is the only venue where people from every state of the Republic come together and world gets to see it as One Nation, diverse and yet united. It is also a platform for her armed forces to let the citizens they are responsible to protect see who they are show their might is. Those who have served in the Uniform in the past wars, it is a nostalgic event, full of emotions and pride in watching their units and regiments marching proudly. The cost of parade is irrelevant because the benefit derived from that exercise is immeasurable. No one cares if the Five Year Plan fails then why worry about the cost of Republic Day Parade. It is an essential ingredient of a Democratic nation. Only few lucky nations can have that privilege.
Film star in republic day parade? this is too much. Why not a fashion show on Raj Path? Can't we live without filmestar and glamour. Do u know how many NCC cadets prepare for it across the nation it really let them feel what India is. Tell me when else you think about India except 15 August and 26 January and you want to ban it too!!
Ms. Kapoor seems to have shortage of good ideas resulting in this useless article. Of-course we should celebrate Republican Day. Its an acknowledgement of our democracy and diverisity Great India offers. A tribute to our brave arm forces and its rich culture. Every country has such tradition - Here in USA, we have July 4th. Ms. Kapoor, please put your God given talent into something more useful and purposeful. And don't you ever question the celebration of India republic. I am an Indian living in USA for over 30 years. Watching Republiation parade makes us so proud and blessed of being an Indian Shame on you.
The parade is a waste of time and money and inappropriate to the Day, which is the day that India became a republic. Such a parade, once in two or three years, on Independence Day will have some meaning. And, why should the parade be the show of the Ministry of Defence? The Ministry to organise it should be the Home Ministry. And, finally, why should India have an 'Independence Day' and proclaim, year after year, that the Indians were some country's subjects? The day should be renamed as 'National Day'.
Even though some people have already reiterated similar point already, I repeat just to drive the point that more people feel the same. Republic day is the day when the nation gets to see the military and the various units in the same that guard the nation. The argument that the money spent here can be well spent somewhere else is a non-starter. Any money spent on public events provides a means of living a lot of business and people. Moreover, Independence ,Republic and to an extent Gandhi jayanthi are the only days now people think about the nation.
Instead of cutting of the Republic Day Parade we should withdraw the security provided to the so called VIPs. Can we know the amount of money wasted on this. I am sure it must be far more than the budget for Republic Day parade.
Parade should be stopped and political awards should be banned. The weapons paraded are not even made in India and are rarely used to defend country. Most of the political leaders are criminals so who wants to watch them. Let individual celebrate if they want to. Celebrating at school level should be enough and award should be given at school level. Money spends in this meaningless show can be used better. On every 26th Jan PM submitt to nation the work done by his Govt. in form of sucess and failure not in long speeches.
3 Billion.This money can be spend to either on education or strengthening the security
Absolutely correct. We have to move beyond symbols of independence struggle.I am not trying to diminish it. It is about time we eliminate many of British Era events.You can show in 2009 on TV parade of 2007 or 2006, no one will tell the difference.What are we trying to prove with this parade?