On Republic Day, around 10 schools took part in the march-past and cultural programmes at the Bidhannagar Municipal Sports Complex ground opposite Bikash Bhavan. 

The guard of honour and salute was taken by the municipal commissioner Pawan Kadyan. Thereafter the Indian national flag was hoisted and national anthem sung by all. Though he hails from Haryana, Kadyan attempted to deliver his speech in Bengali, which once again proved that factors like language and religion are not a barrier for Indians. 

Students then began their march past. Each school had its marching contingent, although Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Bidhannagar Government High School had separate platoons for boys and girls. Our school team, Hariyana Vidya Mandir, was led by Aditya Jaiswal. All of the students were led by yet another contingent comprising West Bengal police, NCC cadets etc. 

Also part of the parade was a fire tender from the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services and on behalf of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation came a suction and jetting machine, garbage dumping trucks and mosquito oil sprayers, drawing giggles from several students. 

Then it was time for cultural programmes. Students of Ideal School for the Deaf from BF Block were dressed in costumes inspired by the tricolour and danced to patriotic songs. The audience gave them a standing ovation. 
Tots of St Joan’s School in GD Block looked adorable dressed as natives of various Indian states. They went on to dance to Vande Mataram in styles of the various states. Schools like CJ Block’s Begum Rokeya Smriti Balika Vidyalaya and HB Block’s Our Lady Queen of the Missions School put up dances too. Although our school did not participate in this section, we had fun watching the others perform. The last performance was by the baul singers and adivasi dancers.

And then it was time to announce the winners. The winning team in the march-past was Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (girls’ group) while the tots of St. Joan’s School won in the cultural programme section. 

“I had given up all hopes after the first and second runners-up prizes went to different schools. So we were really surprised when our name was announced as the winner. I guess our hard work paid off,” said commander of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan girls team, Sanjana Ghosh. 

—  Shrija Bose, 
Class XI, Hariyana Vidya Mandir

 

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex hosted a Republic Day parade organised by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. 

 

Commissioner Jawed Shamim took the guard of honour and salute from marching contingents. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) team and women personnel took part, students from township schools put up cultural shows (Hariyana Vidya Mandir in picture above) and karatekas of the stadium-based Calcutta Karate Club displayed their skills. Shamim handed out trophies to all participating schools for their efforts.

Wavin’ flag