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This is an archive article published on January 26, 2008

President Pratibha Patil makes history

History was made when President Pratibha Patil took salute at the main Republic Day parade, becoming the first woman Head of the State in the country to do so.

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History was made on Saturday when President Pratibha Patil took salute at the main Republic Day parade, becoming the first woman Head of the State in the country to do so.

On the 59th Republic Day, soldiers from the armed forces saluted their first woman Supreme Commander as they marched down the majestic Rajpath in style.

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.

Patil was elected as President in July last year.

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Her husband Devisingh Shekhawat, who was mistakenly identified by the commentator as Devisingh ‘Patil’, was beside her when she took salute.

Patil was seen intermittently talking to Sarkozy, apparently explaining to him some aspects of the parade.

She also presented the ‘Ashok Chakra’ awards to four soldiers posthumously.

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