As the First Citizen drove to the Rajpath in her motorcade along with her French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Pratibha Tai made a history as for the first time a woman was receiving salute on the Republic Day.

The 73-year-old First Citizen came to the saluting dais in her elegant black Limousine along with her French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, the chief guest of this year’s Republic Day celebrations.Tai was seen briefing Sarkozy about the proceedings when the parade began with IAF choppers showering flowers and later when bravery award winning children on caparisoned elephants marched down the Rajpath.

The parade at Rajpath showcased Bharat’s latest military hardware including nuclear-capable missiles and rich cultural traditions. A wide array of new military equipment including an indigenously developed Experimental Tank, the T-90 Main Battle Tank and a mobile launcher for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was on display for the first time at the parade.

An air show featuring Indias Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, the Il-76 heavy lift transport and the Mi-26, the world’s largest helicopter, marked the grand finale of the event.

There was tight security in place for the annual parade. Apart from police and paramilitary personnnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters were deployed at various locations at the route of the parade in the national capital.

Her husband Devisingh Shekhawat was beside her when she took salute.

About the President

Born in a sleepy village in Jalgaon, in north Maharashtra, on December 19, 1934, Pratibhatai traces her roots to a Solanki Rajput family from Gujarat. The Solankis crossed the Tapi to migrate to north Maharashtra and adopted Patil as their second name. Armed with a master’s degree in arts and a bachelor’s degree in law, Pratibhatai entered Jalgaon’s public life as a leading lawyer and social activist with a special interest in women’s education.

Pratibhatai married Devisingh Shekhawat in July 1965, a two-time Congress MLA turned-social activist of Amravati, who had himself excelled in the field of education. She has a son, Rajendrasingh, a Jalgaon-based social worker who looks after the slew of educational institutions established by his parents, and a daughter, Jyoti Rathore.

She won the presidential election held on July 19, 2007 against her nearest rival and fellow Rajput Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. She was sworn in as President of India on July 25, 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.