Context:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as West Bengal’s tableau for the Republic Day parade was rejected without providing reasons or justifications.

Highlights:

=> West Bengal Tableau was set to commemorate contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his INA marking his 125th birth anniversary year.

=> Union government has not yet announced the final selected tableaux for the parade, publicly.

=> However, there will be 21 tableaux, with 12 from states & Union Territories and 9 from departments under the Central Government or independent institutions.

=> Apart from West Bengal, Kerala’s proposed tableau featuring Sree Narayan Guru was also not selected.

Who is responsible for the Republic Day Parade?

Ministry of Defence is responsible for the Republic Day Parade and its celebrations.

Who invite states and UTs to participate in Parade?

Defence ministry invites all the states, Union Territories, Central Government departments, and some constitutional authorities to participate in Republic Day parade through tableaux. They are invited in September month, every year. The process of shortlisting the Tableau proposals starts in second week of October.

What can be depicted through tableaux?

Participants depicts elements relevant to their state or UT or department, within the overarching theme. This year, participants have been given the theme around 75 years of India’s Independence. The theme, “India@75 – Freedom struggle, Ideas @ 75, Achievements @ 75, Actions @ 75 and Resolve @ 75”.

Basic Guidelines over the Tableaux:

=> Defence Ministry also share basic guidelines on what all the tableaux can or should include.

=> Participating entities are mandated to engage “young qualified designers from renowned institutions”.

=> They are also asked to engage moving elements using robotics or mechatronics, electronic display walls for bright display of images or content 3D printing for certain elements, special effects to improve optics & visual effects of the tableau and use of augmented or virtual reality.

=> Tableaux of two different states or UTs cannot be similar, in a bid to showcase the diversity of India.

=> Tableaux cannot have any writing or use of logos, except for the name of state, UT or department.

Selection Process:

=> To select tableaux, the Defence Ministry set up an expert committee of distinguished persons from fields including art, culture, sculpture, painting, architecture, music, choreography, etc. Committee helps in shortlisting the tableaux from proposals.

=> In the first place, submitted sketches or designs of the proposals are scrutinised. Committee can suggest for any modifications in the sketch or design.

=> Once the design is approved, participants are asked to show three-dimensional models for their proposals. There are again examined by the expert committee for final selection.

=> While making the final selection, the committee looks at several factors, including- looking at the visual appeal, idea or theme of tableaux, impact on the masses, degree of detail involved, accompanying music, etc.

=> Only shortlisted participants are informed about the next round.

Size of the Tableau:

Defence Ministry provides one tractor and one trailer to each participant and the tableau should fit on that. Ministry prohibits use of any additional tractor or trailer, or any other vehicle to be part of it. However, participants are free to replace ministry-provided tractor or trailer with other vehicles. Total number of vehicles should not be more than two. Tractor has to be camouflaged in harmony with tableau’s theme. Trailer’s dimension, on which the tableau is placed, is 24 feet, 8 inches long, 8 feet wide and 4 feet 2 inches high. It has a load bearing capacity of 10 tonnes. Tableaux should be 45 feet long, 14 feet wide and 16 feet high from the ground level.