Marching perfect tha.
Music flawless tha.
Tableaux colourful the.
Par sawaal yeh hai — hum inhe judge kyun kar rahe hain?
Republic Day parade ke baad results aa gaye.
Best marching contingent.
Best tableau.
Top three. Rankings. Applause.
Aur humne relief ki saans li — “Achha hai, kisi ne toh jeeta.”
Par Whytho moment yahin se start hota hai.
Republic Day originally celebration tha.
Ab thoda competition ban gaya hai.
Who marched better.
Who looked sharper.
Who told the “right” story of India.
Par sach yeh hai — parade ground pe jo dikh raha hai, woh sirf performance nahi hai.
Woh representation hai.
Har contingent sirf steps nahi practice karta, woh discipline dikhata hai.
Har tableau sirf culture nahi dikhata, woh narrative dikhata hai — “India kaunsa version aaj present kar raha hai.”
Isliye winners announce hona zaroori lagta hai.
Kyuki hum comparison mein hi comfort dhoondhne lage hain.
Best ka tag de do, toh lagta hai order hai.
Ranking de do, toh lagta hai control hai.
Par irony yeh hai —
jo parade unity dikhane ke liye hota hai, usko hum scoreboard bana dete hain.
Aur phir bhi… hum dekhte hain.
Photos zoom karte hain.
Results debate karte hain.
Kyuki deep down, hume validation chahiye hoti hai —
ki hum jo celebrate kar rahe hain, woh “best” hai.
Shayad Republic Day parade ka asli magic trophies mein nahi hai.
Shayad woh iss baat mein hai ki hum har saal phir bhi road ke saamne baith jaate hain —
yeh dekhne ke liye ki India khud ko kaise dekh raha hai.
Aur honestly?
Wahi real performance hai.
Leave a Reply