Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
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| Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh taking salute of NCC cadets. |
The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that the youth of today are a force that can truly transform the nation and enable it to get rid of poverty, disease, underdevelopment and ignorance. Addressing the PM’s NCC Rally here today, he said “we are living in a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world”. Dr Manmohan Singh said the youth today are not only aware and ready to articulate their views but are also willing and prepared to participate in shaping our polity and society in a way that responds to their aspirations. This is an extremely positive development, he said.
Dr Manmohan Singh acknowledged the vital role and commitment of the NCC to groom future leaders. He mentioned that NCC is the foremost organisation that empowers the youth with sound values and cherished ideals, yet offering plethora of opportunities to excel in all walks of life and become worthy citizens of our great Nation. He exhorted the NCC cadets to usher the positive change in society and contribute their best towards nation building. The Prime Minister also complimented the DG NCC Lt Gen Aniruddha Chakravarty and entire fraternity of NCC for their spectacular performance at Prime Minister’s Rally and also for their splendid march on Republic Day.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took the Salute at an impressive ceremonial parade held at Garrison Parade Ground Delhi Cantt by the NCC Cadets comprising 17 marching and one mounted contingents. It was a grand spectacle of pageantry marked with precision, a vibrant expression of pulsating energy and excellence embedded in the smart drill by the ‘Young Custodians of the Nation’, enthused with fervour of patriotism and kindling each heart with pride. 82 cadets from eight friendly foreign countries participating under Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) also marched in sync along with their Indian counterparts. It was ‘Picture Perfect’ – a true picture of aspirational India, on their journey to become worthy empowered citizens with sound values inculcated by a common powerful binding force –NATIONAL CADET CORPS.
The smart march past was followed by a display of versatile skills by the selected cadets of three wings of the NCC. Commencing with cadets mounted on their stallions galloping in front of the PM dais carrying the National, Services flags and the NCC flag symbolising “Unity and Integration”. The cadets carrying out thrilling and daring drops from Advance Light Helicopters and MI 17 Helicopters using slithering technique; attack on an enemy position along with direction of artillery fire by air observation post and dropping of stores for replenishment and evacuation of casualties from the battle field. Adventurous and thrilling Para Sailing by NCC Cadets which was next in the order kept the audience spell bound.
This was followed by five Tableaux comprising Army, Air, Naval Wing, Sports & Adventure and Environmental, Social & community service activities magnificently showcasing multifarious activities undertaken by the cadets. The NCC Mount Everest Expedition in May 2013 and the NCC National Games in Oct 2013 were proudly displayed. The Air Wing cadets then presented their flying skills in a Microlite.
Young blossoming cadets then performed a scintillating Mass Band Display on the melodious tunes of ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ and ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha’ played by Brass Bands from Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Pilani, Scindia School Gwalior, Sainik School Kapurthala and Pipe Band from North Eastern Region which was followed by rhythmic martial arts display by 800 cadets. The versatile cadets then presented mesmerizing display of dance, diorama of a tribute to National Integration through a unique fusion of culture, music and choreography.
The Prime Minster then honoured those cadets who excelled to become extraordinary from ordinary in various categories. These awardees included cadets Prem Kolapkar, Tushar Kant Sahu, Sahiba Kaur, Antara, Manish Banerjee and Arya Bhandarkar. The Prime Minister Banner was awarded to Champion Maharashtra Directorate.
The Rally was attended by a number of dignitaries and eminent guests, including the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh, Defence Secretary Shri RK Mathur, Chief of Army Staff Gen Bikram Singh, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Head of Departments of foreign missions and other important civil dignitaries.
The event has its genesis in the year 1951 in form of a Pagal Gymkhana and Sports. However, it evolved in its present shape in 1954. Since then all Prime Ministers have always graciously presided over the event by their benign presence as “Guest of Honour”; and since its inception, the event has come to be then known as the Prime Minister’s Rally. About 2000 cadets participated in the rally which is a fine culmination of the month long NCC Republic Day Camp 2014 that commenced on 01 Jan this year.
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