The march on the ceremonial boulevard

Rajpath is a ceremonial road in New , that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan through Vijay Chowk and Gate, National War Memorial to National Stadium. The road is lined on the two sides by enormous yards, trenches and columns of trees. Viewed as perhaps the main streets in India, it is the place where the yearly march happens on 26 January. Janpath signifying "People’s Way" goes across the street. It is additionally utilized for the memorial service parades of key political heads of India.

The fantasy of lakhs of cadet to walk on turns into a reality for a hand full. It's anything but a test for will power. 2021 was a challenge for everybody present in the camp. The exceptional 26 from each directorate had twofold the pressing factor on the grounds that these 26 cadets must be similarly skilled for every one of the occasions in Republic Day Camp. The best Cadets needed to plan for Best Cadet as well as for Rajpath and PM Rally too because of the limitations for Covid-19. Overseeing one occasion was precarious yet to deal with every last bit of it and to rehearse for it consistently which felt almost unthinkable.

Pre-Covid, the complete strength of Rajpath is 148 for both SD and SW contingent. This year it was chopped down to a sum of 100 including 3 Platoon Commander and 1 Parade Commander. The selections were extremely stringent and selection didn’t happen in just one day but till the morning 26th January, consistency was critical as we can be dismissed anytime of the training. Our drill must be first class. For all the Rajpath cadets, their rifle is their actual partner all through the camp and there was no going alone without it. It is amazingly difficult to walk for kilometers with a 4 kg rifle from Rashtrapati Bhavan to and back.

An average day for Rajpath cadet would be that to report at Rajpath at 2.30 am in the morning that would mean awakening at 11pm, the day preceding get dressed, drink hot milk and leave. It was loaded up with numerous restless evenings following a debilitating day. We would initially load up the bus designated to us and we would accept our food hampers which would be filled with delightful treats at that point we would arrive at our objective from that point we need to stroll for some time that is the point at which we arrive at the principal check post for checking and accordingly there would be many check posts to cross where they would look at our special Rajpath identity card and later they would check if our rifles are incapacitated and lastly line up before the Rahstrapati Bhavan. I can never place in words to clarify how I felt at that point remaining before the one and only Rashtrapati Bhavan alongside contingents of Army, Navy, Airforce, NSG, Coast guard and so many more. I got so overpowered on seeing every one of the beautiful garbs of all contingents present there and teared up a great deal. we saw the Bangladesh military, then saw the procession of the 32 tableaus including 17 of states, 9 from the ministries and 6 from the defence arms. We saw the best drill with outrageous flawlessness and synchronization and we realized we need to up our game. Walking promptly toward the beginning of the day in very chilly environment with the remaining contingents was truly overwhelming and an exhilarating experience. As nerving as the Defense forces appear they without a doubt knows how to have a good time in which they included us as well. Even when we got exhausted other defence personnel shouted and motivated us on the side as we marched

past them, it genuinely got us pumped up. Our day would reach a conclusion by 12.30 pm after which we arrive at the camp for lunch and not long after we are again in the ground for training.

Shockingly, only days before the headliner I needed to backoff in view of my injury which deteriorated and needed to visit the military hospital for an examination and the specialist advised me to abstain from additional training. This shattered my heart into millions of pieces as I was this close and it was taken away but at least I got to march in Rajpath which many only can dream off. I happily eased off and kept on supporting my batchmates who were doing so well.

At last upon the arrival of 26th January the Rajpath contingent left for the Republic Day Camp and any remaining cadets were advised to go to the auditorium to see the live telecast because we couldn’t attend the function physically due to covid-19 protocol. We all watched it with so much admiration and couldn’t wait to see our batchmates march in front of the President. The moment arrived when the National Cadet Corps SD and SW contingent marched in front of the President with so much elegance and solidarity. We all in the auditorium shouted at the top of our lungs and rooted for them. I was incredibly moved and was so proud of them and felt like I lived my dreams through them. JAI HIND SCC Arpitha Muralidharan TN19SWN921414 1 TN Naval Unit Madras B TN, P & AN