India's military prowess, women's empowerment, cultural ethos seamlessly blend at 74th Republic Day Parade

NEW DELHI. Even the weather gods were kind as India seamlessly combined its military prowess, its efforts at women's empowerment, and cultural ethos at the 74th Republic Day Parade on January 26 with President Droupadi Murmu taking the salute for the first time as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi as the Chief Guest.

It is only the second time in the history of the Republic that a woman has served as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and President Murmu graciously performed her role.

Inspiring, impressive military ceremonies marked Republic Day all over the country.

As President Murmu noted in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, the day the Constitution came into effect to the present day, "it has been an amazing journey that has inspired many other nations".

"Every citizen has reason to be proud of the Indian story. When we celebrate the Republic Day, we celebrate what we have achieved, together, as a nation.

"India is, of course, home to one of the oldest living civilisations. India is called the mother of democracy. As a modern Republic, however, we are young. In the early years of Independence, we faced countless challenges and adversities. Very high levels of poverty and illiteracy were just two of the many ill-effects of the long foreign rule.

"Yet, the spirit of India was undeterred. With hope and confidence, we began an experiment unique in the history of humankind. Such a vast and diverse multitude of people coming together as one nation remains unprecedented. We did so with a belief that we are, after all, one; that we are all Indians. We have succeeded as a democratic republic because so many creeds and so many languages have not divided us, they have only united us. That is the essence of India," Murmu said in her address.

This spirit was very much in evidence as the jam-packed audience on Kartavya Path cheered every move as the contingents moved past the saluting base.

What was noticeable was the emphasis on women's empowerment as seven of the 17 tableaux on displayed focused on this theme while a number of marching contingents were made up of women - a pointer to their growing role in the affairs of the nation.