Do we need annual Republic Day parade? - Coomi Kapoor

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/do-we-need-annual-republic-day-parade/415724/

I am almost a quarter century old and the first memory that I have of reading the paper is some 15 years old, when as a school kid I used to read Coomi's column every Sunday in which she used to write short stories. Since then I've always identified sensible and true journalism with her. Even now she is thinking out of the box but sadly for the first time I do not buy her view-point.

Doing SWOT analysis and DCF analysis of everything is not a sensible activity especially if we do not consider the intangibles. Making the Republic Day a biyearly event will not lead to any solution, such cost-cutting might not be of much help. Moreover the confidence or otherwise that such an activity shall create in the minds of the public, especially in such turbulent times is something beyond comprehension. The basic fallacy in Coomi's argument is that she has totally ignored the importance of tradition and the reasons which led to the start of the celebration.

As far as the idea of introducing movie-stars to make the parade more interesting is concerned it is as ludicrous as introducing porn stars to attract adolescents to temples...