New Delhi: Over the years, India’s Republic Day has been graced by global leaders, including former US President Barack Obama, Japan’s Shinzo Abe, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. However, due to the Covid pandemic, no chief guests were invited in 2021 and 2022.
This year marks a special occasion as French President Emmanuel Macron attends as the chief guest, reciprocating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France on its National Day in July 2023. President Macron’s visit also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between India and France.
Notably, this is the sixth time a French leader has been honored as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day, a tradition initiated with President Jacques Chirac in 1976 and followed by other French Presidents in subsequent years.
Here’s a list of the chief guests over the years:
2023: Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
2020: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro
2019: South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa
2018: Heads of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states. These included: Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei; Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia; Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia; Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Laos; Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia;’ Aung San Suu Kyi, State counsellor of Myanmar; Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines; Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore; Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand; Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam.
2017: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
2016: French President Francois Hollande
2015: US President Barack Obama
2014: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
2013: Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
2012: Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
2007: Russian President Vladimir Putin
2002: Mauritius President Cassam Uteem
1995: South Africa President Nelson Mandela
1971: Tanzania President Julius Nyerere
1967: Afghanistan’s King Mohammed Zahir Shah
1961: UK’s Queen Elizabeth
1957: Soviet Union Defence Minister Georgy Zhukov
Meanwhile, India is gearing up for a momentous platinum celebration of the country’s Republic Day with an enthralling showcase of its military prowess and rich cultural heritage at the majestic ‘Kartavya Path’ in the national capital.
President Droupadi Murmu will lead the country in the grand celebrations in its journey of Amrit Kaal that began post the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations to commemorate 75 years of the country’s independence.
Viksit Bharat’s rich cultural diversity, the ‘Aatmanirbhar’ military prowess and the growing Nari Shakti are the dominating themes of the 90-minute parade that will be graced by French President Emmanuel Macron as Chief Guest.
