Nation Expressed in Parade
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A NATION EXPRESSED IN A PARADE
The skies threatened rain any second, yet a crowd pulled up. Even the dampness couldn’t steal the upbeat vibes. The cadets stood in a perfect array, their hearts bursting with pride and patriotism at being able to represent their country and being at the centre stage of it.
The event started at a few minutes past 8 am, in the presence of the Principal Dr. T.M. Subbarao and other esteemed guests.
It was time for the march. A straight line of cadets melted into a V-shaped formation, and was followed up by the shape of a diamond. They then marched into a formation representing two arrows, and the edges of the formation were smoothed to two lines. A perfect circle and then a grid came up last.
The cadets looked perfect at every step and turn, and they seemed much more like a hivemind, with the level of synchronisation that was achieved. Their neatly pressed uniforms, the colourful neck bands, green berets, and the red feathers that stuck out of it only further immersed people beautifully.
You would almost never think that just a week ago, the diamond formation resembled that of a piping hot vada, and they had to mettle it out. To help with this, a temporary scapegoat was chosen and all mistakes were pinned on him which led to some pretty funny moments and undeniable chemistry.
The rifles were raised to the level of the hip, the synchronised clacks of the boots were heard, the rifles were pointed upward to the sky. The professionalism and the pride were clearly abundant on each cadet’s face.
Dr. Sumitra of the Biochemistry Department hoisted the flag. And all of the hearts in the audience would have certainly swelled to bursting with the unfurling of the flag. In the slow wind, the fluttering flag in all it’s glory seemed to eclipse the world itself.
The national anthem went above and beyond that. The respectful silence played the role of the amplifier for the anthem, and it resonated within the spirit of all the cadets.
Dr. Sumitra gave an invigorating speech, and praised the NCC cadets and the pride of having such an event in our college. The police that guard our college campuses everyday were honoured and applauded, after which the festivities began with a bang.
Three dancers set the stage on fire with a breathtaking display of Bharatanatyam. Their every move was fluid and graceful, much like the march itself. This was followed by electrifying and empowering dance performances to hit songs.
The crowning moment was probably the performance to ‘Naatu Naatu’. First year NCC cadets, who couldn’t participate in the march, showed their enthusiasm and high octane energy by shaking a leg along with the dancers.
Once all the highs of the event had concluded, there was a memorable photoshoot of the cadets in their uniforms, and the students and dignitaries who had attended too. The audience dispersed, and the cadets could finally breathe easy with the Ice Tea and snacks they brought in the Cafeteria.
The event showed the bonding and love the cadets had for each other, and more importantly their nation. It also showed the resilience and perseverance of our NCC, marching perfectly even on the damp and slippery ground.
Written by: Kesavram Marichamy