Mizoram's NCC pipe band shines at DG camp in Delhi, to perform at R-Day parade

The Pipe Band from 20 Bn National Cadet Corps (NCC), Mizoram, on January 20 performed at the DG, NCC Camp, Delhi Cantonment, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
 

Dressed in their immaculate uniforms designed using the vibrant traditional Mizo 'Puan Chei', the cadets carried the weight of representing not just the National Cadet Corps but the pride of Mizoram. 
 

It was a brilliant demonstration of their patriotism and cultural pride to one of the nation's highest authorities.
 

The Pipe Band was raised in Government Mizo High School on June 26, 2000, which initially had 60 students from NCC, affiliated to 20 Mizoram Bn NCC.   
 

The NCC School Band has the distinction of displaying their band during the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi from 2007 to 2017 and then in 2019 and 2021. 
 

The Band has also performed twice for former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in Jan 2014 and has won the NER Band competition thrice.

    
The Government Mizo High School also has the distinction of being the first school registered in Mizoram with NCC in the year 1953.

    
The Band comprises of 24 Pipers, 12 Side Drummers, 4 Tenor Drummer and 2 Bass Drummers and 3 Band Majors all from the Junior Wing and Junior Division of NCC. The cadets selected are from the 9th and 11th standards.
 

Journey to play at R-Day Parade 2025
 

The current pipe band which will be marching down Rajpath comprises of 45 cadets with 19 girl cadets and 26 boys. There are three band masters - two girl cadet and a boy cadet. The band comprises a fusion of 26 pipers, two bass drummers, four tenor drummers and 12 side drummers.
 

Though they won the second prize at a competition of NCC NER Directorate held during the first week of July last year at Shillong, the determination of their Battalion's Adm Officer Lt. Col. Kumud Maini paved the way for their selection among the seven Northeast States. They were the only pipe band at the competition. 
 

After convincing the ADG of NCC Maj. Gen. Gagan Deep, videos of the pipe band's performance were sent to the Director General (DG) of the National Cadets Corps, who sits in New Delhi. The DG, impressed with their performance, dispatched a selection letter on September of 2024. 
 

The NER pipe band is among the four bands selected from 17 NCC Directorates selected for the Republic Day Parade, and they are the only pipe band, with the other three from Scindia, Pilani and Kerala being Brass Bands.
 

The 20 Battalion of the National Cadets Corps of Mizoram lauded the support extended by the state’s Chief Minister Lalduhoma, the Sports and Youth Services Department as well as the Finance Department. 
 

After consultation with the chief minister, he granted the Battalion's Pipe Band, a sum of Rs 19 lakhs for their performance at the Republic Day Parade of 2025.
 

The Band purchased new equipment from Delhi worth Rs 12 lakhs; and with the remaining Rs 7 lakhs, a special order was placed for their vibrant uniform- the 'Puan Chei'- woven at Mizoram's famous handloom and weaving town of Thenzawl.  
 

It is worth mentioning that the design and pattern of the band's uniform was the brain child of the Battalion's Adm Officer Lt.Col. Kumud Maini, and ADG Maj. Gen. Gagan Deep. The flags were ordered from Malerkotla in Punjab; which is the only place where the army gets their zaari work.
 

Furthermore, the pipe band, before displaying their tunes with unmatched precision before the Defence Minister, had performed for the Vice President of India, the Chief of Army Staff, at the iconic India Gate, and at the National War Memorial.