India – Page 17 – Take off with Natarajan

” This Republic Day I Pledge to Uphold My Fundamental Duties….Do You …? “

January 26, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Nishant Gambhir talks about the importance of fundamental duties.

As a student of law, I have been trained over the years to work around and for equality. Equality is the result of a balance which is attained by creating a system of force and counter force. This is exactly how modern civil and sovereign societies are designed to function. Equality, liberty and sovereignty are the guiding principles of a good state. The other essential feature of modern day society is the rights which are given to the people. However, to establish a counter force as well as balance the rights, there are duties.

Jurisprudence, the science and philosophy of justice, says that rights are what the state owes it’s people, but duty is what the people owe the state in return. It’s a plain and simple barter which maintains equilibrium and helps society progress.

However, over the years there seems to be a constant degeneration of the idea of duties, and now an imbalance has come in to the picture. People are getting more and more protective about their rights, primarily because they’re more aware (and a lot of people like us at Lex Do It are working hard to make people aware of their rights). However, they’re getting more and more ignorant about their duties.

Have a look at how well people know their duties:

A worrying trend, isn’t it? We urge you to be aware of your rights. In fact, come to us and we shall help you with them. However at the same time, don’t forget your duties, they’re equally important. With a lack of balance in the functioning of rights and duties, we as a nation will not reach where we’re destined to reach, where we deserve to reach.

Let’s pledge to do our bit for the nation and abide by the duties. Let us be Indians before individuals.

The Constitution of India in Article 51A enshrines 11 fundamental duties upon all citizens of India, namely:

To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem
To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

Let’s work together to make India a better place.

Wishing you all a very happy Republic Day. Jai Hind!

Featured image: Flickr/Sean Ellis

Source……..www.the better india.com

Natarajan

10 Facts about the Indian Army That Will Fill You With Pride……

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

T he Indian Army evokes a sense of pride in all Indians and rightly so. They guard our borders day and night and protect us from external attacks. Here are some little-known facts about the Indian Army that will fill your hearts with pride:

1. The birth of the Indian Army

The army in the Presidencies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras were unified into a single Indian Army in 1895. However, for administrative needs, it was divided into Punjab, Bengal, Madras, and Bombay commands. The Indian Army fought many wars for the British Empire.

2. Various foreign troops are trained in India

The Indian Army conducts exercises with troops from many other countries. Some of the major drills that have been held are Yuddh Abhyas (with the US), Exercise Shakti (with France), and Exercise Nomadic Elephant (Mongolia).

3. Not a single attempt to overthrow the government

The Indian Army has never attempted a military coup since 1947. It has also never attacked first. There has not been an intention of gaining power or governing a nation.

4. All are welcome to join the services

There is no discrimination in terms of recruitment. The Services Selection Board chooses the candidates. The selection process is apparently a very tough one and the quality standards are never compromised.

5. The largest surrender has been before the Indian Army

Over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to India, at the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi of the Pakistani army signed the Instrument of Surrender.

6. Guardians of the President of India

The President’s Bodyguard is an elite cavalry regiment. Its main aim is to protect and escort the President of India. The regiment is based in the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is the senior most regiment of the Indian Army.

7. Building bridges, literally!

The Baily Bridge in Ladhak is built at an altitude of 5,602 meters above sea level. It is 30 meters long.

8. Earned praise from Adolf Hitler

Legend has it that Hitler’s very words were, “If I had Gurkhas, no army in the world could defeat me.”

9. Courage in the face of adversity

The Battle of Longewala was fought in Thar desert in Rajasthan. Major Chandpuri with his battalion of 120 soldiers and a handful of BSF jawans managed to defend the post of Longewala, till help arrived in the morning.

10. A rich legacy

The Assam Rifles has served in a number of conflicts, including World Wars I and II. Since 2002, it has been guarding the India-Myanmar border.

Take a bow, Indian Army. You make us proud.

Source…….Meryl Garcia in http://www.the better india .com

Natarajan

Proud Granddaughter Writes Tribute to Real Life ‘Airlift’ Hero Sunny Mathews….

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

When Saddam Hussain invaded Kuwait during the gulf war in 1990, more than one lakh Indians were stranded there. The entire country was in a state of terror and the residents suffered great tragedies and loss. This was when the Indian government came forward to rescue the Indian community and airlifted over 1,70,000 people with the help of 488 flights in just 59 days. After everyone was rescued, Air India’s name was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the civil airline that had evacuated the most people till date.

And that’s what the latest Bollywood movie, Airlift, is about – the unsung heroes who masterminded the evacuation plan.

But Ranjit Katyal, the character played by Akshay Kumar in the movie, does not actually exist. According to the director Raja Krishna Menon, the character is an amalgamation of two gentlemen, Sunny Mathews and Vedi, who formed an unofficial committee to oversee the evacuation because they knew that Indians were not safe.

A day before the Airlift released, Sunny Mathews’ granddaughter wrote a post about her grandfather on Facebook, with old paper clippings about his bravery.

Rhea Mathews with Adithya Mathews and Annie Mathews.

Delhi, India

· Yesterday at 00:20 · Bangalore ·

Today ‘Airlift’ releases, a movie based on the largest civil evacuation (Indians based in Kuwait) during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Akshay Kumar’s leading role is based on a few people such as my grandfather, who facilitated the evacuation of nearly 170,000 Indians and brought them safely home. My grandfather stayed through the turmoil of it all and put his life at risk to secure safety for all those he could help. He is a great man and through all his success has always stressed on the importance of humility, gratitude and love, especially to those not so fortunate. An inspirational icon who has touched the hearts of many and lived a life of service. I wish I could even be half the man he is. He may not have many years left but through this movie, his legacy will live on and for that I will be forever proud

Talk to any returnee from Kuwait, who has undergone the ordeal of having escaped from Kuwait and he’ll tell you about Toyota Mathews. Mathews is the person who has helped many Indians by either organising their transport, or giving them some money which would come handy on the way, or more importantly, providing them with food and water for the arduous journey. For thousands of Indians stranded in Kuwait, Mathews has been some sort of messiah,” says one of the old reports in the picture.

The evacuation was very difficult because many people did not want to leave their well settled lives behind, and many did not have their passports and other travel documents as they had handed them over to their employers.

“The first challenge was to prepare over 100,000 travel documents. Delhi had sent two planes for evacuation. Ships began arriving a lot later. With nearly a lakh people stranded, I had to look at the alternative of bulk evacuation by road. Sunny Mathews, an extremely resourceful Indian working in Toyota, did a great job negotiating with private bus operators for evacuation via Iraq to Jordan by road,” Ashoke Kumar Sengupta, the then officer-in-charge of the Indian embassy in Kuwait, had told The Times of India in 2014.

Source……Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Meet Rupa Devi – the Woman Selected by FIFA to Officiate International Matches…..

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Rupa Devi, a 26-year-old woman from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, has been selected by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to officiate international matches.

According to reports, she is the first woman referee from Tamil Nadu to be selected by FIFA.

Photo Credit: (L) YouTube, (R) Flickr

Rupa started playing football when she was a student of Class 6 at St. Joseph’s Girl’s School in Dindigul. Her love for the game continued to grow and she started playing at the sub-junior level in her school very soon. She also started participating in district level football tournaments and became a part of the Dindigul Football Federation in 2006. The federation helped her participate in many national matches and also sponsored her education. She continued to play when she went to GTN college in Dindigul for her BSc degree, and then to Annamalai University in Chidambaram for a BEd in Physical Education. She currently works as a physical training school teacher in Dindigul.

“As a child, I used to stand on the sides of the ground where the game was played and kick the ball, whenever it came to me,” she told The Times of India.

According to a report in The News Minute, Rupa lost her parents in 2010 and 2011. She supported herself through the matches she went to play. But during the same period, there were no matches for women at the national level for two years. This was when senior referees advised that she should become a referee. She joined the referee development school in 2012.

She has been a referee for many matches since then. She was chosen as a referee for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2013, for the under-14 football festival held in Doha. She was the only Indian selected as part of the Asian body’s ‘Future referees’ project at that time.

Three years after beginning to officiate matches and giving the FIFA examination, she qualified as an international referee.

Source……Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

10 Rare Pictures of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose That Everyone Must See…

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. Generations of Indians admire his patriotism and courage. Here are some rare pictures of him:

Photo credit: Twitter

Source…….Meryl Garcia in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

The President Shares Pictures as His Residence Is Decorated for Republic Day…

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Rashtrapati Bhavan is being prepared for the celebration of India’s 67th Republic Day, and it is looking as marvellous as always. This Tuesday, the much awaited grand parade on Rajpath will commence from the gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. And on the evening of January 29, the Beating Retreat ceremony will be held at Vijay Chowk, with the North and South blocks of the Rashtrapati Bhavan visible on both sides.

President Pranab Mukherjee has tweeted some pictures, as his residence is getting decorated:

The Jaipur Column

All pictures: Twitter

Source…. Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

How This Organisation Became the Backbone of Thousands of Farmers in India…

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

This article is part of a series that covers the finalists of the HCL Grant & made possible by HCL.

The Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals has been working for the empowerment of farmers in India since 2001. It is bridging the gap between rural communities and other stakeholders through innovative use of ICT across the country.

T here’s a farmer in a small village in Bidar, Karnataka, who needs help with setting up a green house. He doesn’t know how to go about it. That’s when his neighbour tells him about a helpline – Kisan Call Centre. The farmer connects with experts. And within no time, he is equipped with all the information he needs.

Kisan Call Centre is one of the many initiatives of ISAP – Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals – an organisation that is engaging more than 150,000 farmers across India.

ISAP, which has been active in the field of agriculture for the last 15 years, is a non-profit organisation working for the empowerment of rural communities by providing them sustainable agriculture solutions.

ISAP was the brainchild of Sunil Khairnar. After extensively working in the agribusiness industry in India, he realised there was so much potential in the field of Indian agriculture that hadn’t been tapped as yet. He wanted to bridge the gap between farmers and experts. Mr. Khairnar also realised the way to fill this gap was by using the power of information. In fact, ISAP’s mantra has been ICT – information and communications technology.

Using ICT, the organisation has been able to reach out to thousands of farmers.

An awareness workshop being conducted in Aurad.

“The organisation, which started out with just a few employees, now has as many as 330 employees,” says Senior Project Manager Gaurav Vats.

What ISAP does

ISAP is currently implementing various projects across India. From an integrated farming system project in Rajasthan to an agriculture extension system project in Karnataka, ISAP is proving to be a backbone to farmers across the country.

The organisation’s targeted interventions ensure economic development in rural India.

“Our processes are very meticulous,” says Karnataka project head, Chandrashekar Maradi.

ISAP organises farmers into groups at various levels. At the grassroots level, the farmers are divided into Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs). At the taluk level, FIGs come together to form Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

“We believe that there is strength in numbers. When the farmers are organised into groups, they have more bargaining power. For instance, because they purchase seeds as a group, they get them at wholesale prices,” says Mr. Chandrashekar.

The organised groups are also guided on selling their produce. ISAP helps them by providing training on the best harvesting methods, gives them access to warehouses, and so on.

The Agriculture Extension Project was started in 2010 in north Karnataka.

Farmers being taught the dibbling method.

It was launched to improve the production of pulses. In order to achieve this goal, the project stressed on soil and nutrient management. ISAP also helps farmers in marketing their produce.

“We have started Kisan Fresh, a grocery mart, in north Karnataka. Farmers sell fresh vegetables, organic jaggery, pulses, masala powders, and much more,” says Mr. Chandrashekar.

How it’s impacting lives

Gundappa, a farmer in Pattan village, is one of the beneficiaries of the project in north Karnataka. This farmer, who used to only cultivate red gram, was introduced to ISAP’s integrated farming system. Now, he cultivates pulses, grows vegetables, and also raises cattle on his farm.

By expanding his produce, Gundappa has shielded himself from the vagaries of the weather, thereby cushioning himself against disaster in case one crop fails. Gundappa’s success story is an inspiration to many — he is often invited to lecture farmers in his region.

The organisation is also involved in a host of other projects.

For instance, it provides training to rural youth to help them create small and micro enterprises. Together with the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management in Hyderabad, ISAP is running an entrepreneurship development programme for unemployed youth in 12 states. After the training, it helps students set up their own ventures. Under this scheme, ISAP has trained over 4,000 people so far.

ISAP also uses community radio stations to reach out to farmers. It gives out information on agricultural practices, government schemes, etc. Kisan Vani (90.4 FM), at Sironj in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, was the first agriculture-based community radio station in the state. ISAP now plans to set up more such stations in Rajasthan.

The organisation has provided training to women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in poultry farming, washing power production, vermi-compost, and other relevant businesses. It has also helped SHGs in opening bank accounts through the NABARD-SHG bank linkage programme in Rajasthan. ISAP is funded by various organisations and grants.

It has applied for the HCL Grant and through this grant it wants to set up three skill development community colleges in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Through these colleges, it aims to provide certified skill training and a recognised Bachelor of Vocational Training (B.Voc.) degree to unemployed rural youth. The project aims to directly impact 3,600 beneficiaries from poor households.

To know more about ISAP’s initiatives, contact the team on their website.

About HCL Grant

There are about 3.3 million NGOs in India doing commendable work in various areas aimed at inclusion and development. The HCL Grant has been launched to support the institutionalization of the Fifth Estate comprising individuals and institutions formed and led by the citizens of the country through the creation of strong governance frameworks and management capabilities. An endeavor of the HCL Foundation, HCL Grant envisions to build sustainable communities by supporting NGOs and individuals who are doing path-breaking work towards high impact transformation in rural India. In the first year, HCL Grant has identified the best NGOs in the area of rural education. To know more about the HCL Grant: http://www.hcl.com/hcl-grant

Source……..Meryl Garcia in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Ladakh’s First and Only All-Women Travel Company and the Woman Who Started it All…

January 23, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

How many women does it take to start an all-women travel company, set up a women’s welfare network for women in distress, write tirelessly on social and environmental issues, win a bronze at the National Ice Hockey Championship, and keep training an ever-growing number of women to be professional trekking guides in the harsh terrain of Ladakh? Just one, if that woman happens to be Thinlas Chorol.

Back in 2009, Thinlas Chorol set up the Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company, which has the distinction of being Ladakh’s first travel company completely owned and operated by women. It is also known for promoting ecotourism.

Thinlas’ foray into the mountains began as a five-year-old accompanying her father on long treks through the mountains with their goats and sheep.

Thinlas Chorol

Having lost her mother when she was a baby, her father was all Thinlas had. Scared that “something might happen” to him if he were to venture into the mountains alone, she went with him. Today, as one of Ladakh’s best trekking guides, she looks back on that incomparable training fondly, as “the bliss of my childhood.”

Her Journey

What was far from bliss was the assortment of obstacles Thinlas encountered on her way to becoming the pioneering and inspirational woman she is today. Societal restrictions, taboos and narrow mindsets had to be countered for her to become a professional trekking guide at a time when female trekking guides were unheard of.

Despite her trekking competence, many travel companies refused to hire her as a guide, solely on account of her being a woman.

Most men, on the other hand, were hired as trekking guides even without any professional training or knowledge of trekking routes or awareness of environmental impact. She was repeatedly told that a Ladakhi woman going into the mountains with a group of foreigners would be frowned upon by society. But she didn’t let the rejections and social taboos stop her.

Thinlas had met a few female travellers who had been harassed by their male trekking guides and were keen on trekking with a female guide they could trust. With the encouragement she received at SECMOL (Students Education and Culture Movement of Ladakh, an organization that helps educate children from remote regions of Ladakh) and the support of her American English teacher, Thinlas went on to gain some commendable professional expertise. She attended a mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (Uttarkashi) and spent a semester at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, where she picked up wilderness and leadership skills. She even worked as an instructional aide at NOLS and was the first Ladakhi to do so.

Thinlas started the Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company (LWTC) in 2009 at the age of 29.

Trekkers with the Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company

Since then, many Ladakhi women have approached her to train them as trekking guides and, today, the company has 8 guides, 4 trainees and 20 employees in all. It takes a minimum of one year with the company to become a trekking guide. Thinlas also co-founded the Ladakhi Women’s Welfare Network in late 2013, which helps women report crimes against them and works towards their general welfare.

Responsible Travel and Ecotourism

Given Thinlas’ deep sense of connection with the land, responsible travel is a huge part of LWTC’s work. Having seen a lot of garbage dumped on the mountains by irresponsible campers and tourists, the women at LWTC ensure that the ‘leave no trace’ rule is respected on their treks and the environmental impact minimized.

Trekkers make halts at homestays run by rural women and learn from Ladakhis about their way of life. Clients are told to avoid plastic bottles and instead refill water bottles at the homestays. Thinlas says that since homestays are unprofitable for travel agencies many of them don’t offer this option to clients unless the latter specifically insist on them. As LWTC’s website states, homestays help rural women achieve the same status as their men who are out earning for their families. Homestays also encourage people to remain in their villages instead of seeking jobs in cities.

Homestays are the most eco-friendly way to discover Ladakh as they also put minimal pressure on natural resources, unlike camping, which requires ponies and donkeys that deprive the local wildlife of its share of the sparse grass on the mountains.

The women of LWTC are also highly knowledgeable about the local culture, history, flora and fauna and are glad to share that knowledge with the trekkers. A trek with them can give a city dweller an experience of the real Ladakh more than any typical ‘touristy’ visit could.

The Challenges

The main challenge for LWTC is the seasonal nature of their work, with the season being barely four months from June to September. LWTC has to stretch out the income made in these few months for the rest of the year. In the winter, LWTC offers snow leopard treks but, because this is the off-season, there aren’t many takers. The team also looks forward to more people volunteering to teach English to the Ladakhi women training with the company.

The Vision

In empowering herself, Thinlas has empowered a host of other women as well.

In her own words: “Women should think for themselves and not depend on their families. If they believe in themselves, they can achieve what they want. Women should not listen to what society is saying. They should listen to their own ability to work. Then, definitely, they will succeed if they work hard.”

Her vision for LWTC is to see her trekking guides spread their wings across the globe and, in turn, inspire many others to actualize their dreams.

If you’d like to help, please donate to the Ladakhi Women’s Welfare Network (LWWN). It is not affiliated with any religious or political institution and works independently for the welfare of the women of Ladakh.

Source…..Namita Kulkarni in http://www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

Here Are Few Old Republic Day Pictures That Will Warm Your Heart…

January 21, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

F or most Indians, it’s been customary to be glued to the television every Republic Day. The grand parade at the Rajpath, with all its frills, is a visual treat. The celebrations have changed over the years. Here’a trip down memory lane:

King Tribhuvan of Nepal was the Guest of Honour for the Republic Day in 1951.

Photo source: Twitter

Lama Dance from West Bengal during the Republic Day parade in 1956.

Photo source: photodivision.gov.in

Jacques Chirac, President of France, was the Guest of Honour for Republic Day in 1998

Photo source: Twitter

IPS Kiran Bedi leading Delhi Police in Republic Day Parade in 1975.

Photo source: Facebook

Nelson R. Mandela, President of South Africa, was Guest of Honour on Republic Day in 1995.

A view of the Republic Day Cultural Pageant in 1952. This tableau is depicting youth and progress.

Photo source: photodivision.gov.in

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of India, driving in State towards the Saluting Base, during Republic Day celebrations in 1952.

Photo source: photodivision.gov.in

The first Republic Day parade in 1950.

Photo source: Facebook

A section of the huge crowd that witnessed the Republic Day parade in 1952.

Photo source: photodivision.gov.in

Kenneth Kaunda, President of Zambia, was the Guest of Honour for republic Day in 1975.

The tableau from Madhya Pradesh was a replica of Mahatma Gandhi’s hut (Bapu Kuti) at Sevagram, during Republic Day in 1956.

Photo source: photodivision.gov.in

Source…..Meryl Garcia in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

5 reasons why this R-Day parade will be different….

January 20, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

This year’s Republic Day parade will witness some changes.

The duration of the parade this year, for instance, will be shorter — from 115 minutes to nearly 90 minutes.

Rediff.com presents changes one will witness this R-Day parade.

1. Indian Army dog squad

IMAGE: The Indian Army’s dog squad during rehearsals. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI

After 26 years, the Indian Army’s dog squad, which has saved the lives of many soldiers in counter-terrorism operations, will march down Rajpath.

The army, which has about 1,200 Labradors and German Shepherds, has selected 36 canines to march down Rajpath with their handlers.

2. French contingent

IMAGE: French soldiers practise ahead of the main event. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

For the first time in the history of the Republic Day parade, a foreign contingent — 130 French soldiers — will march down Rajpath along with Indian troops in presence of French President Francoise Hollande, the chief guest this year.

The gesture reciprocates one from France to India back in 2009. On July 14 that year, one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army — the Maratha Light Infantry — marched down the Champs Elysee in Paris with the French army.

The occasion was Bastille Day — celebrated in memory of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, the symbolic start to the French Revolution.

3. All-women stunt contingent

IMAGE: The women will enthral the crowds with their daredevilry on two-wheelers. Photograph: PTI

While all-women contingents have been participating in the Republic Day parade for a while now, for the first time an all-women contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force will demonstrate their tandem motorcycle riding skills at the parade.

The contingent — the ‘Women Daredevils CRPF — comprises 120 women from the CRPF’s three women battalions and Rapid Action Force. It was created in 2014, and for the past two years, these riders have been training rigorously for this very opportunity — a chance to show they are as good as anyone else when it comes to stunts.

4. No camel contingent

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IMAGE: Border Security Force troopers ride camels during the Republic Day Parade. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

For the first time in the history of the Republic Day parade, the Border Security Force camel contingent will not amble down Rajpath.

The 90-member BSF camel-mounted troops and band contingent has not been practising during dress rehearsals for the event in the capital, in the absence of official directions.

The majestic contingent first became part of the national festival celebration in 1976 after it replaced a similar squad from the army which had been participating in the Republic Day parade since the first event in 1950.

5. No CRPF, ITBP contingents

IMAGE: A CRPF contingent marches during the 2011 Republic Day parade. Photograph: B Mathur/Reuters

Contingents of paramilitary forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Sashastra Seema Bal will not be part of the 2016 parade.

Perhaps, this is being done to cut down on the time that the parade takes and trim the repetitive spectacle of marching contingents in almost similar uniforms.

Source….www.rediff.com

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