- Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi
By Sangeeta Saxena
New Delhi. 06 July 2023. The stage is set and Champs Elysees is waiting to welcome the Guest of Honour on 14th July , at the Bastille Day Parade. The ultimate feather in Indo-French longstanding relationship, which is not only strong but also trustworthy. This year in 2023 the Arc de Triumph will welcome the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it’s most important guest at the celebrations .
The renowned and majestic military parade returns to the Champs Élysées avenue on July 14, 2023. The general public will return to the famous Parisian boulevard to take in this must-see activity on the schedule of celebrations for the French National Day.
The two-hour military parade in 2023 will have the theme of moral forces. General Christophe Abad, Military Governor of Paris, claims that youthful members of the armed services, both active duty and reserve, embrace this theme across generations. More than 6,000 Republican Guard members arrive on foot, 70 aircraft, 20 helicopters, 200 automobiles, and 200 horses on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées between 10am and noon.
The Serval light armored vehicle, Caesar cannons, and AMX10-RC armored vehicles are all displayed in the French Army’s parade to signify French military assistance to Ukraine. One of the objectives of the 2023 event, according to General Christophe Abad, is to “remind us of our attachment to strategic solidarity with our allies.”
Several fighter jets from various countries, including Indian Rafale, British Typhoon, and Belgian F-16, will participate in the flypast. Around 10.30am, the Patrouille de France, which is commemorating its 70th anniversary, performs a flypast as part of the event’s customary opening. Young reservists perform on the Place de la Concorde to commemorate the building of the Conseil national de la Résistance in 1943, the passing of Jean Moulin, and the beginning of the “Chant des partisans” as the march comes to a close.
Along with the march on the Champs-Élysées, the French will have the chance to interact with the soldiers in a number of locations in Paris, including the Place de la Nation, the Hôtel de Ville, André Citroen Park, and the town hall of the 19th arrondissement. The day’s schedule includes a display of military vehicles, demonstrations, performances by musicians and athletes, and flight simulators, among other things.
Taking a peep into history, during the first few months of the French revolution, there was intense agitation in Paris. The Estates-General resisted dissolution in the spring of 1789, reorganizing itself as a constituent National Assembly. King Louis XVI sacked his beloved Minister, Jacques Necker, in July and summoned new troops. On July 14, early in the morning, Parisians took up arms from the Invalides Armory and marched toward the Bastille, an old royal stronghold. Following a deadly exchange of gunfire, the mob entered the Bastille and freed the few prisoners that were being held there.
The storming of the Bastille marked the Parisian people’s first victory over a representation of the “Ancien Régime” (Old Regime). In fact, during the months that followed, the building was completely destroyed. The first Anniversary of the uprising was celebrated with considerable fanfare at the Fête de la Fédération (“Feast of the Federations”) on July 14, 1790. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord celebrated Mass at the Fatherland Altar on the Champ de Mars in Paris.
Coming back to the Rajpath of Delhi, in a run up to the Indian Prime Minister’s visit Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France, Emmanuel Bonne, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi . He briefed PM on the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation in the context of PM’s forthcoming visit to France.
PM conveyed his gratitude to President Macron for his invitation to participate in the Bastille Day celebrations as Guest of Honour on July 14. Recalling his recent meeting with President Macron in Hiroshima, PM said that he looked forward to continuing their conversation in Paris that would further strengthen India-France Strategic Partnership.
The countdown for ADU has also begun and we will be in Paris to get the event live for you all. At the click of the mouse you will have all the news of the PM’s visit to France. There will be a special section with sub sections on written coverage, photo gallery, video gallery and podcasts. We will capture the moments and create memories. And when the world is remembering a D-Day landing french hero who departed a few days ago, here is my most treasured memory of Arc De Triumph with a veteran who saluted the tomb of the unknown soldier every evening. The spirit of a soldier never grows old.
