Bastille Day Parade, Paris: Indian Air Force (IAF) officer Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy will lead the IAF's 68-member marching contingent at the prestigious Bastille Day parade in Paris, France on July 14, 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the parade as the guest of honour.
Sindhu Reddy will be leading the IAF's marching contingent as part of IAF's 'Nari Shakti' programme.
Ahead of the Bastille Day parade, a 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian armed forces has already left for Paris.
Three Rafale fighter jets of the IAF will also take part in the flypast over the Champs Elysees on the occasion along with French jets.
"The parade will witness a 269-member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces marching alongside their French counterparts," the Army said.
PM Modi's trip to Paris will be special as it will be the first Bastille Day visit by a foreign leader in Macron's current term, officials said. Earlier, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the Bastille Day parade in 2009.
Who is Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy?
Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy, who has been serving the IAF for the past 9 years, is a helicopter pilot and flies the Mi-17.
During her journey with IAF so far, she has worked with air force bases in northern, southern India.
She also led the 144-member IAF contingent during Republic Day parade 2023 in New Delhi.
Speaking to Rediff about her IAF journey, the Squadron Leader said, "I always wanted to fly. My dad always encouraged me and made sure I joined the NCC in college which was a motivating factor."
Besides leading the IAF Republic Day contingent in 2023, Sindhu Reddy had also participated in the IAF’s 2018 marching contingent.
Indian-French armies collaboration dates back to first world war
The association of the Indian and the French armies dates back to the first world war.
"Over 1.3 million Indian soldiers participated in the war and almost 74,000 of them fought in the muddy trenches to never return, while another 67,000 were wounded," the Army said in a statement. The Indian troops valiantly fought on French soil also.
"Their courage, valour and supreme sacrifice not only thwarted the enemy but also significantly contributed towards winning the war," it said.
"Later, World War 2 witnessed a whopping 2.5 million Indian soldiers making significant contributions in various theatres of the war from Asia to Africa and Europe," it added.
The tri-services contingent comprised 77 marching personnel from the Army and 38 members from its the band. The team is being led by Captain Aman Jagtap.
The Indian Navy contingent is being led by Commander Vrat Baghel and the Indian Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy.
The Army contingent is represented by the Punjab Regiment which is one of the oldest regiments of the force. The troops of the regiment have participated in both the World Wars as well as post-Independence operations.
The Rajputana Rifles Regiment band is accompanying the contingent.
(With inputs from PTI)
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