For a while now, social commentators have expressed apprehension of a homogenised India coming to replace the diverse, plural, syncretic, vibrant country we are so justifiably proud of. We celebrated the idea of India on the nation's 71st Republic Day. Indians found various different ways to celebrate the diversity, inclusivity, the many myriad hues that make up India. From our military to our music, the constitution to silly TikTok videos, we celebrated it all:
This video of the Indo Tibetan Border Police force hoisting the flag in the most brutal of weather and toughest of terrain brings home the fact of our soldiers protecting us day and night from afar.
While the entire nation watched the 71st parade live on their TVs and other devices, some shared images of the first ever Republic Day Parade of India.
In a first, this fourth generation army officer was the first woman adjutant to lead the Republic Day parade.
The biker contingent performing daredevil stunts in concert is an attraction each Republic Day. This year it was the women of the CRPF doing those stunts.
In Mumbai 2,400 people took up the plank challenge to create a Guinness World Record
This courageous young man did not let the fact that he has no legs stop him from hoisting the tricolour in this utterly unique way to mark the occasion.
There is the peacock, elephant and camel in there. An auto-rickshaw, a bus, classical dances and musical instruments, national monuments all find representation in this dizzyingly colourful Google doodle to mark Republic Day.
People recorded TikTok videos to mark the occasion – in their own language or to the tune of favourite patriotic songs.
Men, women and kids of all ages and walks of life came out to form a 620 km human chain along the length of the state of Kerala to express their dissent for the CAA and NRC.
At Shaheen Baug in Delhi, there was a tumultuous turnout for Republic Day. Apart from the many tricolours waving in the crowd, a central tricolour was unfurled by the older women of the area along with the mother of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula (who took his life because of caste persecution) and the mother of Junaid (16 year old killed in lynching incident).
On the one hand, we took justifiable pride in each of our military branches – army, navy, air force and paramilitary – displaying their might. On the other hand, are the women of Shaheen Baug exercising their democratic right to protest. Both these images demonstrate that our republic is resilient, strong and vibrant – and free on this, the 71st Republic Day – Jai Hind!
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
