[Reader-list] The republic day parade

[Aman Sethi]

Dear all,

this is just a reaction to republic day parade, and the "parade showcases india's prowess" kind of media coverage that it routinely attracts.

Aman

Why I am skeptical of spectacle.

For many years now, I have been told that India has the second largest standing army in the world; courtesy the Republic Day Parade, it is reassuring to know that, should the occasion demand,  it can march as well.  Apart from this demonstration of military prowess, it is difficult to ascertain the exact purpose of the annual parade on the 26th of January.

The Republic Day Parade is the most awe-inspiring spectacle orchestrated by the Indian State.  A tribute to the Idea of the nation, the parade is supposed to showcase the best that the nation has to offer.  Accordingly, all 28 states and 7 union territories are represented by a series of floats displaying vivid scenes of national life in its myriad forms. But, pride of place is reserved for India’s impressive military arsenal.  Why?  What place does a military display have in a celebration of nationhood? And, what is the role of spectacle, in the form of the parade, in the role of nation building?

In the context of Indo-Pakistan relations, the three wars fought over Kashmir (starting in 1947), and the creation of  a “united India” out of a collection of semi-autonomous states, the role of the armed forces has been foregrounded in the post-independence definition of Indian nationhood.  While the politicians, police and civil institutions have drawn frequent criticism, the armed forces have remained the last institution that has not failed the public imagination. This is surprising, given the disastrous peace-keeping operations in Kashmir, Punjab, Sri Lanka and the North-East.

I suspect that the spectacle of the Republic Day Parade has done more for the image of the armed forces than has been previously admitted.  According to Guy Debord, “The spectacle appears at once as society itself, as a part of society and as a means of unification
 Being isolated –and precisely for that reason- this sector is the locus of illusion and false consciousness; the unity it imposes is merely the official language of generalised separation.”

Thus, once a year, the Republic Day Parade forces the idea of a military nationhood into our collective consciousness and reminds us of a nation of disparate elements united under the State.  This use of “official language” requires us to accept a single totalitarian idea of what the nation means to us, and overwhelms alternative ways of engaging with the idea of a united India.  This totalising idea of statehood must be examined in the context of secessionist movements in Punjab, Kashmir, the North-East and the South.

Watching the parade is eerily reminiscent of a Soviet propaganda film – a nasal voice barks out commentary as rows upon rows of tanks lumber down Rajpath, heavy trucks haul trailers loaded with sophisticated Prithvi missiles, and squadrons of perfectly drilled, magnificently dressed soldiers march with geometric precision to the giddy sounds of drums.  

After the crowd has been sufficiently overwhelmed by this display of aggression, the voice on the microphone becomes softer; the staccato drumbeats are replaced by lilting melodies as states from across the country present air-brushed versions of the regional diversity of India.  School children wave to the crowds, bravery award winners pose on elephants and dancers perform complex pirouettes as the carnival finally gets underway.  It is as if to say that the aggression of the State is a necessary precursor to the establishment of a lasting peace.  

The parade ends with a quick recap of the day’s lessons- military aircraft streak across the sky, drowning the spectators in a deluge of petals.  The gentle beasts of war – capable of dropping petals and missiles with equal accuracy.

EOM
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