Beating the Retreat : Our Soldiers Rock
While historically and figuratively, it is the joy of retreating to the barracks after the last bugler sounds his bugle. But literally It is a musical extravaganza that I always treat my senses to. And this years' was a pleasant departure from the past, with stiffened by training soldiers deciding to showcase their own flair for the music more than just playing colonial era martial music. So it was excellent overall, with particularly the BSF's richly caparisoned camels charming me the most. It seems, they are fighting the sun from setting.
But in public functions, I always wonder, why our politicians who are usually plonked on the front row seats, sit with such sullen expressions on their face. These politicians who don't tire smiling out of sycophancy infront of their bosses don't even twitch much less smile even on occasions like the Republic Day parade or the beating the retreat, where one is filled with pride for valour, training and excellence of our armed forces.
A cadaverous Pranab Mukherjee barely managed to dismount his vintage carriage and kept his left shoulder drooping in a lousy posture reeking of mental disengagement throughout the function. Modi a media marvel was so overly conscious of his mien under gaze of the cameras that he kept tracking the cameras from the corner of his eyes. The stoic Rajnath Singh stuck to his arms folded posture, with never even a finger moving to acknowledge to the harmony, tonality or timbre of the beautiful music played. The fossilised Kalraj Misra. I don't know who invites him for all functions. He is always there with a constipated expression of when this misery will end.
But who cares. The day was carried by the soldier who did it with the flourish that is expected of him. And of course the last tune - Saare Jahaan Se Achha - as expected, played together by all bands as the grand finale stole the show.
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