The Republic Day parade in India holds a venerable and distinguished tradition. When it started in 1950 one of its main objectives was to solemnly commemorate the inauguration of the Republic and, in the immediate aftermath of Independence, to powerfully project the foundational national concept of unity in diversity. Consequently, the occasion served not merely as a platform to honour the nation’s martyrs, recognize acts of bravery, and showcase the military prowess of the nascent Republic, but equally as a celebration of its inherent cultural and regional diversity. To this end, the procession incorporated both the martial parade, comprising disciplined marching contingents from the armed forces and security agencies along with their equipment, and a significant cultural component through the inclusion of thematic tableaus representing various states and performances by artistes and school children

Over the years, the nature of the parade has demonstrably undergone substantial transformation. While positive changes aimed at improvement are welcome, the increasing trend to transform this national celebration into a spectacle designed primarily for mass entertainment is a cause for concern. There is no quarrel on the inclusion of elements that highlight the country’s multifarious progress – be it in technological, defense, or cultural spheres in the celebration of the Republic but the question which begs consideration is whether all of it must necessarily be a part of the parade?

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Is it appropriate or essential for professional soldiers of the nation’s armed forces to engage in complex acrobatic displays such as balancing precariously on motorcycles or revolving in ‘formation’ on fabricated contraptions attached to them? While such displays of skills may appeal to a certain section of the audience and be suitable in informal settings they appear profoundly discordant with the solemnity of the Republic Day parade, an event broadcast globally and watched by millions worldwide. Far from inspiring the........

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