Two young girls, Priyanka Jain and Kartik Rathore were part of the NCC marching contingent at the Republic Day Parade this year. To present the wonderful show and to reach that stage, they had to put in very serious efforts. "To get selected for the parade we had to work very hard," said Priyanka, a second-year journalism student of Kamala Nehru College, New Delhi. Kartik Rathore, IInd-year student of political science, said that the chosen cadets were put through a Republic Day Camp. The pre-condition for this Republic Day Camp was that one had to clear three pre-RD camps. Each of these pre-RD camps lasted for around 10 to 12 days. The main purpose was to increase the stamina of the cadets. All the cadets were made to get up at 5.30 in the morning and carry on non-stop with the daily chores with small breaks in-between.

Meeting all these challenges, Priyanka and Kartik made it to the final Republic Day Camp where they met NCC cadets from many other States. They also interacted with cadets from other countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal who had come to participate in the parade. It was a very enriching experience for them. Both have come out of the camps and the Parade with interesting views. Priyanka has come out very confident after meeting all these people. "It was so nice to know their culture, their way of dressing and everything else about them," Kartik said.

Talking about their daily grind, the two said they were woken up early in the morning and all of them had to assemble by 5 am at Rajpath for practice. The selection for the Parade was finalised on January 6. Those who were finally selected practised in the Polo Ground and on some days at the Rajpath.

Inspite of hard work it did not stop them from having fun and the naughty pranks played on each other. This kept them motivated. Priyanka would play daring games with her friends. "Once, we asked a guy to take off his blazer and took it away until he came and pleaded for it. Later to our embarrassment we discovered that he was our earlier Guard Commander," said Priyanka with a big smile. Also in her list of naughty pranks was an episode when she and her friends went to the canteen without the permission of the teacher and received scolding for this act of aberration.

Kartik also has a few anecdotes to narrate. They would always go and stand right behind the Army squad during practice on the Rajpath so that they would be able to march first among all the cadets. They were very fond of singing songs, some of which included a few patriotic number from an old movie, Shaheed.

There were very special moments. For Kartik, one of her unforgettable moment was when she walked down the Rajpath saluting the President. She became emotional. "It was as honourable as memorable for me," said Kartik. Priyanka feels her best moment was when she got an opportunity to talk to Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis.

Kartik now aspires to join the Indian Army and Priyanka the Indian Air Force.