Republic Day 2018

NATIONAL ANTHEM: BIG LAAF CELEBRATES REPUBLIC DAY

Mohan Kanwar leads march past

The 69th Republic Day dawned on the Garden with the unfurling of the national tricolor at 8:00 a.m., soon after our exercises. As per custom, the senior-most member present did the honors.

The tricolor changes hands

This time significantly, Hari Singh Shekhawat was to salute his wife as she held aloft the banner in the midst of a motley group of 50 who had gathered for the ceremony.
Following the national anthem, Mohan Kanwar Shekhawat led a march past around the Garden walkway -- again, as per Big Laaf tradition. Amid the raising of slogans, “Bharat Mata ki Jai!” the tricolor kept changing hands

Holding the tricolor aloft

through the duration of the parade till it finally terminated at the starting point near the China Hut.
Dilip Babani had organized the laddoos to celebrate the occasion. But before that, Karun Sharma recited a poem specially composed for today’s event

Another view of the march past

followed by Shanti Singh treating us to a full-throated rendering of ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’ (from the film Haqeeqat). Banoo Apa was to wrap up the brief but engaging celebration, leading the chorus with yet another patriotic refrain, ‘Sare jahaan se achcha…’
In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, we stuck to tradition – not digressing from what we have been doing every year on this day. One person we missed was Santosh Tyagi. She is having to attend to her son who had been admitted yesterday in Nanavati Hospital with a severe hepatitis-B condition. We wish him well.

Karun Sharma

Shanti Singh

Sweets for all

Karun Sharma:
Enjoyment and enthusiasm walked hand in hand with patriotic fervour as we celebrated the national festival.

Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Republic Day, the most important day in Indian history, is celebrated by every Indian. We also do our bit by celebrating in a befitting manner. Ought to keep it going.

Dilip Babani:
Happy Republic Day to all members of the Big Laaf family.