For The First Time, Veterans Of Subhash Chandra Boses INA To Take Part In Republic Day Parade
Image Credits: Wikimedia(Representational)
  • Whatsapp
  • Telegram
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • koo
  • Whatsapp
  • Telegram
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • koo
  • Whatsapp
  • Telegram
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • koo

We, the proud Indians would be celebrating our 70th Republic day, for which the preparations are going on a full swing. The national capital is all set to showcase the yearly grand parade that will commence from the Raisina Hill Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s residence) to India Gate. This year, the parade is more special as four soldiers from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) would march on the Republic Day parade.

“This would be the first time that INA soldiers will take part in the Republic Day parade,” Major General Rajpal Poonia, Parade Deputy Commander said.


From the first INA soldier

According to The Quint, the four veteran soldiers who are in their late 90s hailing from nearby areas of Delhi-NCR region. Among the four, the senior-most soldier, Bhagmal is 100 years old. A resident of Manesar, Haryana, he had joined the INA in 1942. The other three soldiers- Lalti Ram (98) from Hira’s Panchkula, Singh (97) from Haryana’s Narnaul and Parmanand Yadav from Chandigarh – would also be participating in the parade.

When asked why only four soldiers of INA are participating in the parade, Deputy Commander said that it was difficult to find members of the INA who are still alive.


About INA

The Indian National Army or the Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists Rash Behari Bose and Mohan Singh in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The army that was formed with an aim to secure India’s independence from British rule was formed with an alliance with the Empire of Japan in the latter’s campaign in the Southeast Asian theatre of WWII. Later, Rash Behari Bose handed the INA to Subhash Chandra Bose. In his leadership, the army was declared to be the army of Bose’s Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (the Provisional Government of Free India). However, the INA soldiers were not allowed to merge with the Indian Army due to certain policies of the government at that time.

Republic Day, 2019 will mark the 70th year of the Constitution of India coming into force. The first Republic Day was celebrated in the year 1950 after the Indian Constituent Assembly decided to celebrate it on January 26 every year. This year the chief guest for the Republic Day will be Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the fifth and the current President of South Africa. Along with the INS soldiers, this year M-777 howitzers and the K-9 Vajras PD propelled artillery guns would also form part of the new entrants at Rajpath this year. For the first time, women’s wing of the Assam Rifles will also march past the Rajpath and salute the President on January 26, 2019.


Also Read: All Women Assam Rifles Contingent To Script History, Will March Past Rajpath This Republic Day For The First Time

Contributors Suggest Correction
Editor : Ridhima Gupta Gupta

Must Reads