Where, grave, thy victory?

January 29th.

The Beating Retreat ceremony that is held every year at the Vijay Chowk or the victory square in New Delhi with the Rashtrapati Bhawan as a magnificent backdrop. The various armed force bands play their ceremonial tunes and march in a grand finale to the Republic Day celebrations three days prior.

At the end, before the flag is lowered, the hymn ‘Abide with me’ is played through the tolling of the bells. According to tradition, the Beating Retreat was first used in England to call the nearby patrolling units back to their castle and in the course of time, the ceremonial tattoos were included along with the drummers and the call of the bugle.

It seemed only befitting that papa should also choose to leave this earthly abode, today, the 29th of January, three years ago.
He was headed back, it was dusk and his master was calling him home.

Today, this day begins today like every other and this evening, as was our practice, we will sit one more time and watch and hear the bands play.

This evening if you get a chance, tune in to the television set at five if you can. At six, before day ends, as the bells toll ‘Abide with me’, his favourite hymn, say a prayer with me for all the fallen, the ones who have gone on before us. And hug the ones you have with you a little more tightly.

“Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me..”