01-30-2007, 05:12 PM
I witnessed the Republic day Parade after a gap of 12 years since I was abroad all these years. I do appreciate the points made by Mr. Naqvi in his article in the Dawn Newspaper of Pakistan.He has very rightly pointed out the need for the armored limousine in place of the horse drawn carriage, in view of the troubled neighborhood that we live in today. HE SHOULD THANK HIS FELLOW CITIZENS IN PAKISTAN FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT:The two other aspect on which the columnist has commented relate to the display of the military might which he terms as borrowed military might and the cultural aspect of the parade.
On the quantum of military hardware that was on display, I would like to point out that it was much scaled down than what used to be in the past. There were only three T-72 Tanks and two Bator Guns plus three BMP-I armor cars. Two tank prototype did drive pass the saluting base as did several pieces of communication and signaling equipment, some developed and produced in the country itself. The same was the case with the fly pass as only a very few aircrafts did participate at the function. The only missile of any significance that was on display was the Bramose cruise missile. For a change there was no display of any long range missile to any nuclear delivery system...
On the contrary, the cultural component of the event was much larger than the armed forces participation. There were elaborately designed floats, performing artists and some one thousand three hundred school children who participated in the event. The cultural part did represent the varied religious, multiracial and multi cultural aspect of the Indian society.
All will agree that in the absence of world disarmament, it is but necessary to retain an armed force to defend the nation. In the case of India, there is no exception and the symbolic display of a few armaments whether manufactured in the country or purchased from abroad was nothing in neither appropriate nor was it designed to show off to any particular nation in the world. The manifold achievements of India as a nation and the multifarious social and economic problems that a considerable number of its citizens still face, was obviously in the mind of each of the citizens who are today better placed in society both economically and socially. The festivities of the Republic Day is rather symbolic in nature to remember all the brave citizens who have given their life in defense of their nation and to re dedicate ourselves in our struggle to make life comfortable for all its citizens.
On the quantum of military hardware that was on display, I would like to point out that it was much scaled down than what used to be in the past. There were only three T-72 Tanks and two Bator Guns plus three BMP-I armor cars. Two tank prototype did drive pass the saluting base as did several pieces of communication and signaling equipment, some developed and produced in the country itself. The same was the case with the fly pass as only a very few aircrafts did participate at the function. The only missile of any significance that was on display was the Bramose cruise missile. For a change there was no display of any long range missile to any nuclear delivery system...
On the contrary, the cultural component of the event was much larger than the armed forces participation. There were elaborately designed floats, performing artists and some one thousand three hundred school children who participated in the event. The cultural part did represent the varied religious, multiracial and multi cultural aspect of the Indian society.
All will agree that in the absence of world disarmament, it is but necessary to retain an armed force to defend the nation. In the case of India, there is no exception and the symbolic display of a few armaments whether manufactured in the country or purchased from abroad was nothing in neither appropriate nor was it designed to show off to any particular nation in the world. The manifold achievements of India as a nation and the multifarious social and economic problems that a considerable number of its citizens still face, was obviously in the mind of each of the citizens who are today better placed in society both economically and socially. The festivities of the Republic Day is rather symbolic in nature to remember all the brave citizens who have given their life in defense of their nation and to re dedicate ourselves in our struggle to make life comfortable for all its citizens.