In 1963 I was amongst the few commentators chosen to do the commentary for All India Radio from a booth located on Rajpath on January 26, 1963. Since then I have been describing the spectacular event to all my listeners.
It was an exciting experience for the first few years. I would work late into the night to work out my script and rehearse it time and again. Later it became a routine affair and the words came naturally. With Brigadier Chittaranjan Sawant, who was then Major Sawant, it was fun to do the commentary.
I would get swayed by my emotions and feel as if I myself was a part of the parade marching on Rajpath and passing in front of the President. The chain was broken this year when my name was suddenly struck off from the list of commentators a couple of days before the parade.
As told to Onkar Singh
