Indian troops to march down Champs Elysées

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NEW DELHI: A contingent of Indian troops will march down Champs Elysées to the sound of Indian martial music, watched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is the chief guest at this year’s French National Day celebrations on July 14. Mr. Sarkozy was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade here last year.

The second batch of 270 armed forces personnel comprising marching columns and a combined military band from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy left here on Wednesday for Paris.

On Tuesday, the first batch of 130 personnel left for Paris to take part in the parade by the Indian troops, which will be commanded by Air Commodore R.K. Mathur.

‘Proud day’

The French National Day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison on July 14, 1789.

“It will be a proud day for India as our troops will march in a country where they fought during World War I,” said Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar. Indian soldiers of the British Imperial Army were in the two Allied divisions that fought the Germans around the northern French town of Neuve-Chapelle in March 1915.

India has close military and political ties with France, which recently began supplying six submarines at a cost of Rs. 15,000 crore and is a leading contender for the next order of submarines.

France backed India in ending its isolation from global civil nuclear commerce and is poised to construct two nuclear plants in western India, besides supplying uranium.

It is in the race for a $10.2-billion tender for fighter aircraft and talks are being held to modernise the Indian fleet of 50-plus French origin Mirage fighters.

Defence Secretary Vijay Singh could be accompanying the Prime Minister to hold talks on defence-related issues.

Off to France: Indian armed forces contingent members boarding an aircraft
for Paris at the Palam Air Force Station in Delhi on Wednesday
to participate in the French National Day Parade.

(from The Hindu, 10 July 2009)

On the evening news in France tonight, they had a report about this as well, showing the 400 Indian troops packing incense and food products, because they are afraid that they might not find the necessities in France...

[Deleted]

I had heard that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was a guest at the French National day. India is also part of the G5 and the Indian Prime Minister, being from one of the so called G5, was also present at the trade talks a couple of days ago.

More on here about it: news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_re_eu/g8_summit

Kerouac, I come from a military background, my Granddad was an officer in the British Army during WW2, as was my great Uncle, who was a Coronal. So I always find that part of history (and it's aftermath) of interest.

A little off topic, but any idea why the French numbers are pronounced almost the exact same as in Punjabi? I've always been curious about this.

[Deleted]

Actually, my command of Punjabi numbers is rather limited, so I can't say!

[Deleted]

I'll have to find someone else to ask then. ;D

[lagatta]

I hope they have a good time!

We can direct them to Kerouac's neighbourhood if they are missing anything.

It is about time the role of people who are - how does one put this correctly - not White? - in the Liberation, whether French or British colonial troops. There was such a whitewash at the time of Liberation - guess it took more than Nazism to get the message of how stupid racism was.

Don't all the Western numbers come from so-called "Arabic" numbers, which were actually Indian in origin?

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If I were younger, I would have gone to the Champs Elysées last night, because I know that the final dress rehearsal for all of the troops was at 3 a.m. I saw it one time in the past, and is so weird to see a full military parade in the middle of the night with almost no spectators.

The participants must really hate it, but hey, they're in the military and have to do lots of stuff they hate.

[bixaorellana]

Maybe it's a relief to practice in the cool of the night in those heavy uniforms.

Yeah, that would be like something out of a dream, an entire military parade on one of the biggest boulevards in the world in the silent night hours.

[bjd]

Speaking of bringing necessities -- one year I flew into Israel along with a bunch of Fijian UN peacekeepers. While we were waiting for our luggage, I could see all these cardboard boxes of food, fruit, etc coming round on the carrousel and the Fijians picking them up. I found it funny at the time, but I guess they were right that they wouldn't find what they wanted along the Sinai border, which is where I think they were sent.

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2009 22:30:28 GMT lagatta said:

Don't all the Western numbers come from so-called "Arabic" numbers, which were actually Indian in origin?

lagetta, I think you are right, I did read that somewhere before.