The Republic Day Parade of 1981

It was a regular school day in September and we reached school and went to our calssrooms for some chatting and some fun before filing into the courtyard for the assembly.  The hymns were sung, the prayer said and the main news read from the newspapers.  We waitied, as always for Mrs. Michael to address us for the day and let us know what is new for the day.  We then were told by Mrs. Michael that class XI, all sections would be participating in the Republic Day parade in January of 1981.  There were murmurs, some excited, a few cribs and some “will we miss classes?”.  My heart leapt and my friend Chhavi and I exchanged looks and smiled at each other.  What fun we thought.  We could spend time together during this period because she was in the Humanities section and I in Science.  Also the change and opportunity to participate in something as prestigious and national as the parade was beyond imagination for me.

That day I remember telling my mother and father at home about the huge news.  My parents were excited and I think rather proud.  Soon my aunts and uncles and freinds and neighbours know that Preeti will be participating in the Republic Day Parade.  My sister was 4 years then and I remember my father telling her that they would go to watch the parade in January.  I basked in the glory for a while and then the selections and practice sessions started.

A week later 3 police officers came to our school and they announced that all the children of class XI were to assemble outside in the playground.  We were made to stand in lines and made to march and march we did for the next 2 hours.  I do not remember well but I thik almost all of us were selected.  One or two girls I think did drop out of the same.  And then the rigour started, everyday after assembly till lunch and then post lunch till school got over, we were marching around the playground.   Our juniors were looking at us in awe.  Colonel Michael would be there grooming us and giving us instructions and letting the police fficers know what needs to be done differently and they would not dare say anythng otherwise to a retired army man.  It was hard work and for some of us who were not very much into sports got a peek into what training means.

By November we were taken to Rajpath everyday morning and we were joined by girls from other schools and we realised, or atleast i realised that we were a part of the Delhi Traffic Police girls marching squad.  The prime spot was meant to be all of us demonstrating the Traffic Police signals as we did on the road.  Little did we realise during the Fridays that we went to direct traffic as a part of the Delhi Traffic police training that we would get the opportunity in the Republic Day parade too.  The Prime Minister was Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the President Mr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and Mrs. Kiran Bedi was the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and she was later in the year 1981 to receive the ‘Woman of the Year’ award for her drive, initative and service to the community.  She came to Rajpath on many days to see us practising and one day she mingled with all of us on the lawns of India Gate.  I wanted to shake hands with her and was asking our squad leader, a traffic policman if I can do so.  He pushed me ahead, in front of the crown and told Mrs. Bedi that I wanted to shake hands with her and she came over and gave a firm hand shake and said “grow up to be brave and strong”.  I was ecstatic and I ofetn think of that moment with her, the first lady IPS officer in India, and also of the middleaged policeman who gave me that opportunity.

I do not remeber the other schools that participated but I do remember that Springdales School participated with us.  By December we were practicing long hours with the Traffic Police band and marching to their tune (literally!!) it was not easy mind you, because there were multiple bands playing and we had to tune into the one directly ahead of us which was of course the Delhi Traffic police band squad.  Winter set in and it became cold and some days it would be foggy and cold and dreary but we would march on.  

In January, we started marching from the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Raisina Hill to the National Stadium beyond India gate.  As the we neared January 26th, crowds would assemble on the lawns to watch the parade.  The tableau of various states would gather at the Raisina Hill and our favorite was that of Goa because they would play upbeat music and their participants would dance and sing and had us join them.  It was truly an awesome time and experience.

Soon we were in January and we were given our uniforms for the march past provided by the Delhi Traffic police.  White skirts, white full sleeve shirts, belts, caps and shoulder pads.  White shoes and white socks to our knees.  Smart uniform, that made us stand tall and proud of ourselves.  Most days we rehearsed in the rain, some days were cold and all we had were sweaters inside our long sleeved shirts.  We were given the itinery for the the days from Jan 20th to the 26th, the roads were all blocked for the parade so we would be picked up and dropped back by the traffic police buses, we were given the details of pick up point and timings.  My frined Suneela Rohatgi was to stay over with me in my home for the main rehearsal and the final parada day.

The D day dawned, we we had to be up at 3:15 a.m. because our pick up was at 4 a.m.  So were attired in our uniform and my mother tried to feed us some breakfast at that time but we could not, the excitement and the nervousness and the time of the day did not allow us to clam down and eat.  So my father walked with us to our stop for the pick up.  We reached Raisina Hill and were taken to the Rashtrapati Bhawan where there was a large breakfast for all of us participating in the parade.  The President, Mr. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was walking the lawn mingling with the army men and the other participants, we saw him from a disctance.  and then we lined up and took our places for the march past.  Marching on the Rajpath, for India to see us, what a moment, what pride, what an honour.  At the central point we did our drill and I could see our Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, smile at our display, that of a woman encouraging us girls, a smile of a proud matron, a smile for the girls future and a smile for the future of India.

Thus the parade ended at the National Stadium, I had a feeling of loss, a loss of being together, coming together for a cause.  Till date whatever anyone says about the Delhi Polic, Traffic and regular I see only their life, the hard work they do and the compassion they offer.  The few who are different need to necessaily be the norm.  Jai Hind!!