Historic INA soldiers and All-Women Assam Rifles Contingent at 70th Republic Day

For the first time, more than 70 years after independence, 4 personnel of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) take part in the Republic Day parade. The four soldiers are aged between 97 and 100 and they hail from nearby areas of Delhi-NCR.

The senior-most soldier is 100 years old, named Bhagmal resident of Manesar, Haryana who had joined and fought for INA in 1942.

Asked why only four soldiers of INA are taking part, Major General Rajpal Poonia, Parade Deputy Commander, said it was difficult to find members of the INA who are still alive.

The other three members include Lalti Ram, 98, from Panchkula, Hira Singh, 97, from Narnaul in Haryana and Parmanand Yadav from Chandigarh.

Founded in 1942 by Ras Bihari Bose, INA was led into war by Netaji who had fought fierce battles with the British till Independence.

However, the INA soldiers were not allowed to merge with the Indian Army due to certain policies of the Congress government at that time.

All of them are in their late 90s and have hailed PM Narendra Modi for recognising their contribution to the country.

Lalti Ram, 96, said this is for the second time he will be honoured by the government. The first time he was honoured on October 21 last year.

Recalling his association with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the soldier said, “I was posted in the artillery of the INA and had worked very closely with Netaji”.

Till today, Lalti Ram refuses to accept the plane crash theory that claimed Netaji Bose’s life.

He said, “Hours after the news of Netaji’s plane crash was aired, Bose was sitting with his brigade.” Lalit Ram feels that Bose is still alive.

Another INA veteran Hira Singh, who is 97-year-old, has also thanked the Prime Minister, for this honour of participating in the Republic Day parade.

The team also includes Baghmal, who is 100 years old and 99-year-old Parmanand.

Hailing Prime Minister Modi, Defence Expert, Major General GD Bakshi told that though late but at least now, these great soldiers were being recognized for their contribution to the freedom struggle.

“It is sad that they are being given the honour at this age when one of them is 100 years old. Only about seven to eight soldiers of the great Army are left and we could get some who are staying nearby,” Major General Bakshi said. 

All-Women Assam Rifles Contingent March Past Rajpath On Republic Day

An all-women contingent of the Assam Rifles, created history by walking down Rajpath for the first time on Republic Day.

The decision to open Assam Rifles to women was taken in 2012. After a lot of research and preparation, the force was opened to women in 2015. A year later, in 2016, the first batch took its commencement oath and 127 women recruits became Assam Rifles’ first batch of Rifle women. Today, this number has gone up to about 365. Eventually, women will form five per cent of the entire force, approximately 2,500. This year, the Assam Rifles has advertised for 1,500 vacancies. Thirty-three per cent of the force consists of residents of the Northeast, the remaining include candidates from all over the country.

Maj Khushboo Kanwar, 30, and mother of a child, who led the contingent of the Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in the country, was brimming with pride. 

"Leading an all-women contingent of the Assam Rifles was a matter of great honour and pride for me. We practiced very hard...I am a daughter of a bus conductor from Rajasthan and if I can accomplish this, then any girl can fulfil her dream," she told PTI. 

But, it wasn't the only first for women, as Capt Shikha Surabhi from the Corps of Signals performed bike stunts alongside her male teammates as part of daredevils team. 

And, firsts were created this Republic Day not just on ground but also in air. 

During the flypast segment, IAF's An-32 aircraft flew in a 'vic' formation, whose lead plane was flown using a mix of traditional and biofuel for the first time during the parade, a senior IAF official said. 

The An-32 (Satluj) formation also exhibited India's quest to seek alternative sources of fuel. The lead aircraft of the formation, was flown utilizing Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with 10 per cent biofuel, the senior official said. 

The biofuel has been extracted from Jatropha plant seeds using a technology patented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, the IAF said. 

For the first time, Shankhnaad, a military tune composed by an Indian classical music exponent based on a poem penned by a Mahar Regiment veteran, was also played during the parade. The combination of military bands of the Sikh Light Infantry, Mahar Regiment and the Ladakh Scouts played the tune.