Bhubaneswar: Kartvya Path signs in grand with the V-signature in capital letters on Sunday.

Valour and Vibrancy have been the capital themes majestically, as the country observed with all patriotic fervor the 76^th Republic Day today.

The main thoroughfare of the national Capital vibrated with the might of India – Military and Culture.

While the march past of country’s defence and security forces has drawn the rapt attention of the delegates and common people alike for the elements of discipline to the core, the parade of tableaux along the Kartvya Path infuses the vibrancy and added colours to the lives of Republic Day watchers.

As 16 states walked with pride on the Kartvya Path with their vivacious tableaux, Odisha was conspicuous by its absence.

The reason behind Odisha’s absence has been rejection of the tableau sent by the State culture department.

WHAT WAS ODISHA TABLEUAX FOR 2025?

 The Odisha tableaux design for the Republic Day 2025 houses and showcases Odisha’s rich tribal culture and the State’s rich textile heritages.

The tableau (see the main image) tried to showcase State’s rich textiles legacy, including textile craft from Kandhamal, famous sarees from Maniabandha et al.

HOW TABLEUAX ARE SELECTED?

As per the Ministry of Defence official circular isseued on Oct 28, 2024, the theme of the tableaux for the Republic Day Parade 2025 has been the following.

THEME: Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas

HOW STATE TABLEUX SELECTED?

A glance at the MoD circular for Republic Day Parade 2025 shows the following criteria.

• The tableaux proposals are evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert Committee.
• In the first phase of selection, the sketch/design of the proposals is scrutinized and suggestions, if any, are given to carry out improvement in the sketch/design.
• Once the sketches/designs are approved by the Committee, the participants are asked to come up with three-dimensional models of their proposals.
• The models are thereafter examined by the Committee for final selection depending upon other aspects of the tableaux given below
• These tableaux proposals are examined on the basis of

1. Theme 
2. Concept 
3. Design 
4. Their visual impact

WHY ODISHA TABLEAU IN BHARAT PARV?

It needs mentioning that Ministry of Defence has signed an MoU with as many as 29 States/UTs for:

1. Displaying of tableaux during Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path
2. Bharat Parv at Red Fort
3. At Home Function in Raj Bhawan(s)

Among the 29 states, Odisha has been one of the signatories to the MoU with Ministry of Defence.

For which, the State’s tableau has been on display at the ‘Bharat Parv’ held at the historic Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2025. ‘Bharat Parv’ has been a part of the Republic Day celebrations, the MoD statement suggests.

IS THIS ODISHA’S FIRST REJECTION?

The answer has been emphatically NO. Odisha Tableaux had been rejected thrice consecutively from year 2021, 2022 and 2023.

2024 saw Odisha making into the tableaux parade in grand way and walked with the first prize. 

After 3 consecutive rejections, the State triumphed in 2024.

When the previous years saw rejection, politicians then sniffed political bias as the State was ruled by Naveen Patnaik led BJD and Centre was helmed by PM Narendra Modi of BJP.

Now the twist given is, despite ‘Double Engine’ govt the rejection has been a blow to “Odia Asmita (pride)' - BJP govt's main election slogan..

The timeline of rejection, triumph and again rejections have clearly vindicated no politics at play in tableaux selection for the R-Day parade.

WHY ODISHA FACED REJECTION?  

The big reason, it seems, behind rejection of Odisha’s R-day tableaux has been that the State culture department panel of designers, artists, painters could not skillfully adhered to the theme of the 2025 Republic Day Parade.

When the theme was Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas; the tableaux design of Odisha could address only to the one V, not the other V – Vikas (development).

REALITY CHECK

A look at the State tableaux rolled on the Kartavya Path brings the glaring failure of Odisha.

• Jharkhand – Swarnim Jharkhand: A Legacy of Heritage and Progress (The tableaux also paid to Ratan Tata and the Tata Group’s vital contributions to the state’s development.) 
• Gujarat – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat Aur Vikas (it showcased iconic ‘Kirti Toran to worl’d tallest statute Statue of Unity).
• Andhra Pradesh – Etikoppaka Bommalu- Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys (in accordance with the theme of 2025 R-Day Parade)
• Uttar Pradesh – Mahakumbh 2025 - Swarnim Bharat Virasat aur Vikas
• Bihar – Swarnim Bharat: Virasat Aur Vikas (Nalanda Vishwavidyalya) (it showcased how the ancient knowledge seat Nalanda University has been come up with new grandeur)

WHO TO BLAME?

The past experience suggests the following.

• State level selection panel is dominated by government officials, who are no expert in tableu designing.
• Low budget provisioned for designer panel. The result fresh and innovative skilled designers stay out.
• Repetitive designs need to be avoided as they risk high rejection chances.

State Government has to immediately set up of an eminent panel to design the Odisha tableau for R-day 2026 in accordance with the theme.

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