in the light of the removal of Abide With Me from the Beating Retreat ceremony.
Let me try to put things in perspective.
Beating Retreat
Beating Retreat is a military ceremony, dating to 17th-century England, to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle at sunset. By extension this ceremony was used to end the day’s fighting in a battle. As soon as the buglers sounded the Retreat, troops ceased fighting, and withdrew from the battlefield.
In our context, the Beating Retreat ceremony marks the end of the Republic Day festivities, and is on the 3rdday after Republic Day.
Over the years it has become as occasion for Band displays by the Bands of the Armed Forces. Timeless classics of Western Music, and, of late, typically Indian tunes are played by the highly competent members of the three Bands: the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. It is a beautifully crafted ceremony with a gorgeous backdrop of decorated camels against the North and South Blocks. Beating Retreat is always at sunset, making the ceremony very impressive and moving.
In the particular context of our country, the Beating Retreat ceremony was started in the early 1950s when Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip visited an independent India. Jawaharlal Nehru, our Prime Minister at that time, asked Major G.A. Roberts, an officer in the Grenadiers, to do something spectacular for the royal visit. Major Roberts conceived the Beating Retreat ceremony. It was to be a display by the massed bands of the Army, Air Force, and Navy bands. Over the years these bands have developed an eclectic repertoire and a variety of marching formations and displays.
Tradition
Tradition is the handing down of customs, or beliefs, from one generation to another. Tradition reinforces values we hold dear. Tradition also provides a forum to showcase and celebrate customs that are important to us.
The Beating Retreat ceremony is a gorgeous symphony of music, discipline, and colour. It is not a colonial hangover, but it has taken the best from the various cultures of the world and knitted them into a uniquely Indian ceremony. Every year new tunes are added, new displays worked out. The drum sets are modified for increased effect. The tradition is enriched every year as it moves from one generation to the next. Every tune and every display comes together as one composite whole. This ceremony showcases the virtuosity of the men in uniform. While accompanying the March Past, of course, typically marching music is played. The end of this ceremony has always been the hymn Abide with Me. This is a beautiful hymn and it was one of Gandhiji’s favourite hymns. The playing of Abide with Me is a musical tribute to the Father of our Nation, and along with this, the playing of Sare Jahan se Achcha is a tribute to our beloved country.
In Lawrence, Lovedale, I remember as if it was but yesterday, how hard the boys and girls in their respective bands practised for the Beating Retreat ceremony. Every free moment went into rushing to the Band Room and taking their instrument to secluded places around the Band Room to practice. And then, when they all came together, it was another round of intense practice. As the last day approached, their instruments and uniforms literally shone. What pride there was in the way they played and conducted all the exercises. The end of the ceremony was marked with Lawrencia. There was not a dry eye in the stands. Lawrencia was our tribute to Sir Henry Lawrence and our beloved school.