The meaningful efforts of the state's School Education and Literacy Department have yielded positive and historic results. The dream of including Jharkhand's pipe band in the National Republic Day Parade Rostrum since 2015 has now been fulfilled. On the occasion of Republic Day, the team of girl students of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Patamda, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand has got the proud opportunity to perform at the rostrum.
The Union Ministry of Defense has sent a letter to all the departments in this regard and directed to immediately issue photo identity cards of the students of 3 schools of the country selected to perform at the rostrum and Vijay Chowk on 26 January 2025. On this glorious achievement of Jharkhand, Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren, Departmental Minister Ramdas Soren, Departmental Secretary Umashankar Singh, State Education Project Director Shashi Ranjan, State Program Officer Dheersen Soren and other officials have congratulated and wished the team.
Departmental Secretary Umashankar Singh has directed the officials to work on making this historic achievement even more special. Adequate arrangements should be made for the girls' team's accommodation and food in Delhi. Along with this, all facilities should be made available to them, so that not only do they perform well on the rostrum, but also give us an opportunity to be proud by winning the National Pipe Band Competition to be held on 24 and 25 January.
The School Education and Literacy Department of Jharkhand was constantly trying to perform in the National Republic Day Parade Rostrum. Work was done continuously at the departmental level to encourage the teams, but till 2024, Jharkhand never got the opportunity to perform at the national level. After winning the first prize in the Zonal Level Band Competition held in Guwahati, Jharkhand's Girls Pipe Band Team was selected for the national level competition and performance on the rostrum, and then Jharkhand's ten years of meaningful effort turned into a dream come true.
The piper band team of the students of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, Patamda, East Singhbhum, selected for the Zonal Award Winner cum National Pipe Band Competition, had won the first prize in the Zonal Level Band Competition held in Guwahati on 22 December 2024. Now this team will participate in the national level band competition. On 20 January 2025, all the students will go to Delhi with their teacher and coach by Anand Vihar train. The final competition will be held in Delhi on 24 and 25 January 2025. After this, this team will give a band presentation in the rostrum of the Republic Day Parade to be held in Delhi.
PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, Patamda has been selected for the girls pipe band presentation in the rostrum. This band team of Jharkhand includes Parvati Mahato, Ashalata Mahato, Pinky, Kalyani Mahato, Mamta Mahato, Basanti Mahato, Varsharani Manjhi, Basanti Mahato, Sadhna Mahato, Subhadra Karmakar, Rupali Tudu, Parmila Mahato, Ruma Mahato, Kalpana Tudu, Pooja Rani Mahato, Pooja Mahato, Riya Mahato, Chhaya Mahato, Savita Mahato, Usharani Soren, Pallavi Mahato, Ibil Hansda, Sukarmani Soren, Barnali Manjhi. All of them are students of class 8th to class 12th in PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School, Patamda. Along with them, teacher Mrs. Saro Hansda, Band Master Mr. Prem Rana, Coordinator Mr. Chandradev Singh, Havildar Mr. General Singh and Mr. Amar Veer Singh of Punjab Regiment Center will also join the team.
The Ministry of Defense has sent a letter to the concerned departments. In the letter, the departments have been directed to issue photo ID cards (admission passes) to the students of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Patamda, East Singhbhum (Girls Pipe Band) for performance on the Rostrum and PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Belgaum Cantonment, Karnataka (Boys Pipe Band) and Government Senior Secondary School West Point, Gangtok, East Sikkim (Girls Brass Band) for performance at Vijay Chowk. Along with this, Delhi Police has been directed to start the process of issuing entry/photo ID passes. Delhi Police has also been directed to send this list for the relevant verification.
In the celebration of 26 January (Republic Day), the rostrum is the stage where the dignitaries of the country, such as the President, Prime Minister, Chief Guests from other countries and other officials are present to watch the parade. This platform is situated on Rajpath (now Kartavya Path) and from here they watch various parade performances like band performances or tableaus.
The pipe band competition was first organised at the block level and then at the district and state level. The team selected at the state level got an opportunity to participate in the zonal level competition where the pipe band team of the students of PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya, Patamda, East Singhbhum won the first prize. Now this team will participate in the national level competition. The Ministry of Defence selects schools every year for the performance of school bands and cultural groups during the Republic Day celebrations on 26 January. The school bands are judged on the basis of their quality in music and parade performance. In this, their playing skills, discipline and collective ability of presentation are tested. The girl band team of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Patamda was selected for their accuracy of notes, uniformity and practice.