The Hindu : Reel romance from other Punjab; real heroes from here

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 22, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Reel romance from other Punjab; real heroes from here

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 21. There will be a little bit of reel `romance' from across the border alongside real heroes this Republic Day, when 29 floats glide down Rajpath on Monday.

With songs of love from the other side of Punjab and a `dream team' that climbed the Everest, these tableaux that add a different colour to a largely "green'' ceremony will probably leave behind an impression that lasts longer than their brief appearance for the spectators who get up in morning to watch the parade live.

There will also be interesting new inclusions to the parade this year. The Department of Justice will be making an appearance on Rajpath with the float projecting the highest court of India - the Supreme Court. There will be more than just the guarantee of legal rights at the parade with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare focussing on gender equality where the girl children will find a special place. An attempt to spread awareness about the discrimination of the girl child - the float has India's hope for tennis gold Sania Mirza leading the women brigade.

While it might have been conceived much before the peace process started, the tableau from Punjab strangely enough, celebrates its spirit. Brightly dressed dancers in long skirts wearing even brighter smiles and swaying to the catchy beat of a gypsy song which has long been forgotten on this side - serve as a reminder that the borders that divide the two neighbours can sometimes be fuzzy.

"Sammi used to be a popular dance form, but we have forgotten this tradition somehow. It is still alive across the border though. It is named after a young girl who was madly in love. Sohni-Mehiwal used to be from this region and young girls used to dance along the Chenab. There was a three hour film recently which focussed on all the folk traditions of Punjab, which are being rapidly lost and we picked up this dance from there. For us, the other side is also Punjab as we have the same culture and language,'' said joint director, Information and Public Relations, Chandigarh, Hem Raj Kalia.

Giving space also to those who defend the borders, the Republic Day floats has a tableau from the Ministry of Defence, which brings alive the heroism of Army officers off the field. Showcasing the spirit of adventure and the sheer will to move mountains or climb them; the tableau depicts the Army's Everest-Lhotse expedition.

In stark white, this tableau will bring with it a "whiff'' of icy winds that the team had to face to climb to the top of Everest. With no actors, the first Indian team that has scaled two 8,000 feet peaks will be standing tall on the tableau.

"It was really cold and it takes sheer determination and tenacity to climb the Everest. But Everest is easier to climb than Lhotse because there is only one route that is like a gully and is prone to stone falls and ice chunks. But it felt great to unfurl the tri-colour at the mountain peak. This is what we are here for,'' stated the team leader, Colonel Ashok Abbey. And with their supreme commander having specially called to meet them before the parade, they have reason to be proud.

And to encourage a little bit of youthful enthusiasm is the float of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which inspires teams to "Go for Gold" at Athens. The tableau from "God's own country'' will lead the parade.

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