New Delhi:
The scene-stealer at every Republic Day parade and Beating the Retreat is the camel-mounted band of the Border Security force, the only one of its kind.
This January 26 will mark the 20th year of their participation of the band, which also features in the Guinness Book of records.
But behind the spectacle lie months of rigorous training.
For three months, a hundred camels and 200 men who come from Jodhpur to camp in Delhi, undergo rigorous training for the Republic Day parade. Defying the fog and the bitter chill, the day begins at 4.30 for them.
These men play a dual role, as dedicated soldiers of the BSF and as devoted musicians. The two identities are tough to balance.
The camel-mounted band was inspired by the Ganga Risala, a camel corps of the princely state of Bikaner which fought both the World Wars and had a musical component as well. Over time, the Ganga Risala was disbanded. Later a part of it merged into the BSF and 20 years ago in 1990, the camel mounted band of the BSF made its first appearance at the Republic Day parade.
The men are also devoted to their camels. They share an intimate relationship. Ask any of the jawans and they will fore ground a serious statistic. In just 20 years the camel population in Rajasthan has dropped by 50%. A statistic worth considering as we watch the incredible spectacle that this contingent brings to life every year.