There is much anguish among the military and veterans at the changes brought about in the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony.

Several veterans said the military parade has been reduced to a cultural show in the name of change.

The ceremony on January 29 every year marks the culmination of the four-day long Republic Day celebrations.

Ahead of the ceremony, the Defence Ministry had said in a statement that this year, Indian tunes will be the flavour of ‘Beating Retreat’.

“These military traditions have evolved over centuries. Music and traditions change. I have no issue with Indianising the tunes. But the dignity of the marching and of the parade cannot be compromised,” said former Northern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag.

Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar (retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, said that watching the ceremony on TV, he was surprised and disappointed because the “solemnity and the military gravitas” associated with it was missing and the ethos had been progressively diluted over the last few years.

“There is also debate about including the sitar or the ghatam. These are very fine musical instruments and have their own autonomy. But, to my mind, it was incongruous at Vijay Chowk, for they do not fit into a military band. One is not in any manner against the idea of introducing Indian musical scores or instruments. But they must be in harmony with the ‘raga’ of BR.”

Commodore Bhaskar stated that Beating Retreat was not a cheerful ceremony and had a certain pensive context as it is conducted a day before January 30, the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.

“Somehow that reflective element towards the end has been lost. Now BR is becoming more of a musical evening — alas, of uneven scale and melody,” he added. Several veterans took to social media to vent their frustration.

These views were shared and endorsed by many serving officers.

This year there were 18 military bands, 15 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions. Besides one band each from the three services, there was also a band comprising the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Delhi police.

The ceremony began in the early 1950s when Major Roberts indigenously developed the unique ceremony. ‘Beating Retreat’ marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting on the battlefield at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat.