The first 10 parades of the Indian Republic Day, twice the main guest of Pakistan

New delhi date. Sunday 26 January 2020

Marshal the Jiangying of China (1958)

In 1952 and 1953, there was no guest of honor for two years, Marshal Jianjiang of China, India's neighboring country, was invited as the chief guest. There was tension between India and China at that time but Jawaharlal Nehru was hoping for peace between India and China.

President Clement Voroshilov, Soviet Union (1960)

In 1959, as there was no guest again, in 1960, President Clement Voroshilov was invited by Russia as the chief guest on the 10th anniversary of Republic Day.

Queen Elizabeth II of Britain (1961)

After independence, India never invited Britain to the parade. Later in 1961 Queen Elizabeth was invited to the Republic Day Parade.

King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia (1963)

India had no main guest because of the Indo-Pak war in 1962, but India invited Cambodia for the first time in 1963 and King Norodom Sihanouk was the chief guest.

Pakistan's Food and Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hamid (1965)

Pakistan was once again invited to be the chief guest in 1965, a few days before the war between the Indo-Pak, as there was no main guest in 1964. Pakistan's Food and Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hameed was the chief guest at the time.

Inviting Two Countries Together (1968)

India invited the two countries together in 1968 for the Republic Day Parade, with no main guest in 1966 and 1967. India invited Soviet Union President Alexei Koshigan and Yugoslavia President Josip Broz Tito.

Bulgarian PM Todd Zhivkov (1969)

This was the first time the Balkan country was invited to be the main guest at the Republic Day parade while there are also some countries that were invited sometimes, but Bulgaria was involved in the parade of India for the first time and in 1969. Bulgarian PM Todd Zhivkov becomes the chief guest.

Tanzania's President Julial Nyere (1971)

After not inviting any country in 1970, Tanzania was invited as the 9th Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade in India in 1971. Like Bulgaria, Tanzania was invited only once. Tanzanian President Julius Nyere was the chief guest.

Mauritius PM Sivusagur Ramgoolam

For the first time in 1972, Mauritius was invited to the Republic Day Parade in India. Mauritius PM Sivusagur Ramgoolam arrived in India as chief guest in 1972. In addition, twice in 1990 and 2002 and invited to Mauritius.