Explained: How are Republic Day tableaux designed and selected?

What is the News?

West Bengal Chief Minister has said that she was shocked as West Bengal’s tableaux for the Republic Day parade was rejected without assigning any reasons or justifications.

What are tableaux? 

Tableaux refer to a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history.  

On Republic Day, states and different departments and ministries showcase their achievements in form of cutting-edge technology and instruments or their history and culture in their respective tableaux. 

Can participating states or departments depict anything through their tableaux?

The participants have to showcase elements relevant to their state/ UT/ department, within the overarching theme. 

The theme given to participants this year was around 75 years of India’s Independence. The theme, the government told willing participants, is India@75 – Freedom struggle, Ideas @75, Achievements @75, Actions @75 and Resolve @75.

Moreover, the tableaux of two different states/ UTs cannot be too similar as the tableaux should showcase the diversity of the country.

Further, the tableaux cannot have any writing or use of logos, except for the name of the state/ UT/ department which should be written in Hindi on the front, English on the back and a regional language on the sides.

How are the tableaux selected?

The selection process is elaborate and time-consuming. 

The Defence Ministry constitutes an expert committee of distinguished persons from fields like art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture and choreography.  

The Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and visual impact before making its recommendations.

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Explained: How are Republic Day tableaux designed and selected?’ published in Indian Express on 18th January 2022.