At 3 am, Women Officers Practice. The Goal is Republic Day.
"Chin up, girls, hands up in the air, look straight!" The drill master's voice rang out in the mist and haze of Rajpath at 6.30 on a freezing Delhi morning. Most people may still be hitting the snooze button on their alarm clocks, but nearly 350 women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force have been at work for three hours already - practicing for the parade in which they will march on Republic Day.
