Independence Day 2022 @ Sobha Palladian!!

 Part 1

 The Preparation:

Over the last 5 years, every
year from mid-July to mid-August, the Sobha Palladian Security team gears up for the Independence Day Parade.  And it’s a big day for them.

 

Around 8 AM each day, a loud voice ring with ‘Saav Dhan !!!’

followed by hob nailed boots stomping on the paved pathway.

And for the next one hour this small squad of 15 security guards go thru a grueling marching session.

Saav - Dhan!!   the troop commandant shouts.

Parade, Veesh-ram!!

Parade - Dahiney Se Tej Chal !!!  Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp …  from exit gate to entry gate .

Parade - peechey mud !! and

pmotS, pmotS,   pmotS, pmotS,   

Stomp Stomp Stomp Stomp

continues up and down this small stretch of pathway.

and the exercise continues with serious and earnest intensity for an hour.

 

 Hira SIngh in his ceremonial attire with Captain Appasaheb, Madan (Security Supervisor) and the security team.

Finally, the parade assembles in front of the flagpole and sings our national anthem – in a subdued tone as the squad is pretty much exhausted by now. 

And then with renewed vigor they shout “Bharat Maata ki Jai” three times before the  ‘visajan’ and back to their positions!

And I have watched this every year!!

 

The Independence Day Celebration:

This year the residents of Sobha Palladian celebrated our Independence Day with such gusto & enthusiasm that can only be matched by the World Cup finals between India and Pakistan! 

Check out these proud beaming faces!!! 

 Extremely Proud to be holding the Tiranga 

Absolutely wonderful participation !!

Jayashree Srinivasan welcomed all the folks assembled for the flag hosting ceremony and passed on the mic  to Ardra who did a wonderful job as a compere’ for the event 

‘Do you see a person with a big camera clicking photos??

I am his (Manoj Janardhan) daughter - is how she introduced herself. Kudos!! 

And as Ardra announced the occasion of 75^th Independence Day, I could hear a murmur correcting her – ‘its 76^th Independence Day’.

So let me set the records straight.  We are celebrating our 75^th   year of independence.  However, if we consider 15 Aug 1947 as Day 1 , then 15 Aug 2022 is the 76^th  Independence day  for us !  QED ??

 The Marchpast and Flag hoisting:

The parade was led by Hira Singh and command given by Madan Darjee.

Veterans Group Captain Satish Chandra Mehta, Colonel Jagdish Narula, Colonel Dinesh Prasad Mathur, along with Corporator Ramesh, Anil Bajpai and Captain Appasaheb jointly hoisted our National Flag.

The National Anthem & and Shanaya giving live accompaniment on her keyboard.

You were great, Shanaya!

 Note: On Independence Day we hoist the flag. We pull the flag up the flagpole and then unfurl it!  The Prime Minister hoists the Tiranga. 

On Republic Day the flag is already up on the flagpole, and we just tug it to unfurl it! The President unfurls the Tiranga !!  https://newsonair.com/2022/08/14/flag-hoisting-vs-unfurling-know-the-difference-between-15-august-26-january-flag-ceremony-2/#:~:text=On%20Republic%20Day%2C%20the%20President,some%20differences%20in%20the%20ceremonies. 

 Address by Chief guest N Ramesh, Corporator Marathahalli.

Though his schedule was tightly packed Corporator Ramesh made time to attend our event as he has religiously done for each and every Independence Day & Republic Day that we have celebrated.   Thank You, Sir!!

In his address Corporator Ramesh recognized and praised the steady progress India has made over the years. He said that we were subjugated by the Europeans, the Dutch , the Portuguese and finally the British for a long  time and how a once wealthy India became a poor nation .  Now we are on our way back to reclaim that glorious past.

 

SPOA President Dr Raghunandan Kumar:

Raghu, in his address recalled the sacrifices made by all the freedom fighters and thanked all the armed forces for protecting and keeping our country safe. He specifically mentioned that India is a peaceful nation and we have never invaded any other country, but we will fiercely defend every inch of our homeland! 

He then specifically called out his appreciation and thanked all the armed force persons residing in our society for their dedicated service to the nation.

 

Folks, we are very fortunate and blessed to have amongst us nine (9) senior veterans living in Sobha Palladian!!

1001 – Colonel Dinesh Prasad Mathur, Kirti Chakra Awardee

1021 – Group Captain Satish Chandra Mehta

1023 – Colonel Jagdish Narula

2013 - Group Captain Chennakeshu

2023 – Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra, Kirti Chakra Awardee

4003 - Group Captain K L Kanwar

4003 – Colonel Rajiv Kanwar. Sena Medal Awardee

4025 – Air Commodore Akshay Thakur

5035 – Colonel H S Walia.

What an impressive array of role models for our younger generation!

And I sincerely hope that an equal (if not more) number of Sobha Palladian children join our armed forces and make our families & our nation proud!!

 

 Ravish Malhotra served as backup for Rakesh Sharma on the Soyuz T-11 mission which launched the first Indian Cosmonaut into space in 1984.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravish_Malhotra

Colonel Dinesh Mathur  fought the Indo-Pak war in 1965 in the Kargil sector. He served in 6 Assam rifles, in Mizoram from 1966-69, when he was awarded the Kirti Chakra  for bravery shown during the counter-insurgency operations ( got a congratulatory DO from Gen Sam Manekshaw! ). He was instructor in the IMA from 1970-73 and then panel shifted to 14 Guards, posted in Kanpur with the unit. He participated in quashing the 1973  Provincial Armed Constabulary ( PAC ) rebellion.

 Janani: A tribute to our Motherland. 

A soulful song sung by Harsha.  

Let my forehead glow with the touch of your rich soil, let your incredible and glorious history be my Suprabhatam. Let the sky resemble the eruption of a hundred explosions, let the roar represent the ruination of all enemies and let the resonance of the sounds of your victory sooth me as they make a beautiful lullaby.’

Janani song was composed by MM Keeravani, from the recent movie RRR.

  Baje Sargam Har Taraf Se:

Harsha back on stage with a delightful & graceful dance performance invoking the spirit of National Integration !

Baje Sargam har tarf se goonj bankar desh raag - The notes sound everywhere the music echoes as desh raag).

The lines that are said in different languages but echo the same meaning. And Harsha danced, expressing the raag through various forms, including Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Manyatta, Kutchipudi and the folk tradition of Kaalbelia.

Baje Sargam was released on the morning of August 15, 1989.

And the other song ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ was released a year earlier on 15 Aug 1988.

And nearing the end of the event Colonel Jagdish Narula presented best performance awards to Daktar Behra and Prakash Dorjee.

 Stay tuned for the Children's special Part – 2! 

A tremendous amount of planning and work has been put in by the various resident, the Cultural committee, the Management committee, and the staff.  I can imagine the amount of effort that went into practicing, coaching, and performing for this event.

Thank You folks, and the enthusiastic children for putting up such a wonderful show.

You are rockstars!!

And the man behind the camera – Thank You Manoj for the wonderful pictures .

 

Jai Hind!

Krish//