By IANS
New Delhi : The 59th Republic Day Parade Saturday will go down in history for more ways than one. Not only did President Pratibha Patel become the first woman to take the salute, the event also served to sharply contrast the mannerisms of Patil and her predecessor, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Given his bubbly nature, Kalam would invariably interact animatedly with the foreign guest of honour would be seated on the president’s right.
Last year, when Russian President Vladimir Putin was the chief guest, Kalam excitedly pointed to the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that India and Russia have jointly developed as it rolled past the saluting dais.
This time, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was largely left to his own devices. Patil chose to maintain what could be termed the Indian version of a stiff upper lip.
Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari did occasionally lean to his left to speak to Sarkozy, who by and large interacted with his interpreter seated behind him.
***
At an investiture ceremony before the start of the parade, the loudest cheers were reserved for Suhasini Vasant and Chinta Devi as they came up to President Patil to receive the Ashok Chakra awarded posthumously to their husbands who died during counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Suhashni received India’s highest award for gallantry during peacetime on behalf of her husband Col. Vasant V. Chinta Devi got the medal awarded to her husband, Naib Subedar Chunni Lal.
One other posthumous Ashok Chakra was awarded to Capt. Harshan R., whose father K. Radhakrishnan Nair received the medal.
***
It was a bitterly cold Republic Day, the coldest in recent memory, as a stiff breeze blow across Rajpath.
Anticipating this, most spectators had come well prepared, swathing themselves in woollens of all kinds from sweaters to jackets, shawls and even blankets.
President Patil was elegantly dressed in a beige half coat while former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda was barely recognisable with his entire face covered with a heavy muffler. Only his eyes and the top of his bald head were visible.
In contrast, Congress president Sonia Gandhi seemed quite comfortable in a sweater worn over a green sari.
***
There was much to excite the large numbers of children who flocked to Rajpath to watch the parade.
“Look, look!” many said in wonder as the mounted riders of the 61st Cavalry, the world’s only operational horse-mounted regiment, the camel riders and motorcycle display riders of the Border Security Force and finally a variety of aircraft and helicopters concluded the show.