My heart was filled with joy when I learnt that the Indian Navy’s Marching contingent was adjudged the best by the judges this year on the Republic day. Indeed the Republic day parade on the Kartavya Marg reflects the power and glory of the nation and it reassures us that that we are one and formidable. Though many organizations and people participate in the parade, the day belongs to the armed forces.

On this day, I reflect upon our true national advancement and contribution of various people and organizations and carry out some mental audit. I first probe myself, my identity which is shaped by the military culture of years of service, and therefore I consider myself as part of the vast Armed forces organisations spread over the length and breadth of the country. I rejoice their victories and am saddened by their failures, which are few. I know that each armed force personnel who was marching on the Republic day marched with his heart and soul, marching which has been perfected by many months of practice around the India Gate. They arrive from various units stationed in the remotest locations, get up in the early hours in the biting cold and are ready in full marching rig to practise as contingent on the roads before the Delhi traffic snarls in.

But this commitment and confidence emerges much from the service they belong to and the history of its sacrifice for the nation since independence. Their demeanour, the robust presence, the swelled chest is on account of the sacrifices of the many martyrs whose stories they carry with themselves neatly preserved as a source of inspiration and pride which reflects in their personality.

Returning to myself I reflect upon the services and conclude that what tremendous role it has played in preserving the unity and integrity of our nation from external aggressions and internal conflicts. To my mind we were defeated only in 1962 war with China and since then we never looked back.
That burden of defeat on account of various reasons we still carry and it still haunts us. We have had five small and big wars with our neighbour and have been resoundingly victorious in all fronts. We preserved the sanctity of Kashmir and northeast on numerous occasions. Bore the brunt of the miscalculations of our political masters in IPKF( Indian peace keeping force ) operations in Sri Lanka and operations Blue star in Punjab. Gen Vaidya, the former Chief of the Army staff, was victim of the terrorist attack after his retirement as retaliation. We serve as part of UNO peace keeping force, our ships are continually deployed for humanitarian aid and evacuation of Indians from conflict zones and our report card is excellent! Armed forces never wavered from the role the nation had tasked them with and so on the Republic day this day I felt happy and satisfied about myself and my service.

But I also reflect on the other people and services and expect them to do the same internal survey and audit which I do. I wish the IAS also reflects in a similar way and examine their role critically as they are the main executers of the government policies. The secretaries should assess their contribution in uplifting the state people in general. The district magistrates who have been accorded immense resources and powers to administer a district should assess their success and failures. They should not be merely satisfied in maintaining status-quo. They should also dwell on the motto of the LBSNAA( Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration) Mussoorie where they are trained and self assess if they have really lived up-to those lofty words which say – ‘Sheelam Param Bhusshanam’ which means ‘character is the highest virtue’.

The police force, who also march on the occasion, should also reflect and list their achievements. Have they instilled enough confidence among the common people regarding safety, security and fairness? Have they made any attempt to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of the citizens?

The teachers, professors and the owners of private universities should also go through the same exercise and match their contribution with the fees they charge from many students. Have they made good citizens of the aspiring students or have just expanded the mirage of jobs?

The doctors should undergo some reflection. How much they have worked toward making a healthy society? The scientists should mull on the many pending projects of national security and assess their performance in the field of indigenisation.

The forest officers and the conservator of forests may like to learn as to how much of ‘afforestation’ has been achieved during the year and how much of wild life, flora and fauna they have preserved?

The law makers should reflect if the new bills passed and laws enacted by them have really helped the society? Or only the powerful have been made more powerful and the executive arm of the government has been further strengthened? Did they keep the Constitution of India in mind and its mighty Preamble while formulating new laws?

And finally our Judiciary, the guardians of the Constitution, who witness the parade from a premium position should mull over their performance and reflect upon the vast pending cases, the large number of undertrials in jails for years in hopeless state. They have the power to check the most powerful and therefore should think and reflect if they have really done that?

The Republic day is celebration of our Constitution and to convey that our ‘Republic’ is in words and deeds a Republic. But does that happen? Have the fruits of the Republic reached our villages as Gandhiji had imagined and advocated since he wanted to make ‘Village Republic’?

But I come back to armed forces after the survey of all around and feel happy that they can march with their head high, chest upright and smile on its face on the Republic Day and on all days. Indeed , the nation also acknowledges that and therefore their parade and display of armament is the highlight of the ceremony.

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