Farewells are never easy. They make the hearts thump against chests, bring lumps to throats and tears to eyes. As he prepares to walk away into the proverbial golden sunset, Virat will show yet again that it is not just about him but, being at the helm, it is about spreading calm to each one around. He has created and is leaving behind a legacy for his successors to emulate.
No, we are not talking about Virat Kohli causing this emotional response now. Instead, we are speaking about the king of horses in India. This Virat, an embodiment of elegance and calm, is the President’s Bodyguard Commandant’s Charger. Virat is the pride of the Indian Army’s oldest regiment and the most calming influencer of them all.
On Wednesday, when Virat escortedsthe President of India on the renovated Rajpath ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, it was the last time he did ceremonial duties. And, it should surprise no one that everyone in the President’s Bodyguard found it hard to curb his emotions till official duties were complete on Republic Day.
There was a twinge of sadness among the officers and men of the President’s Bodyguard as they knew that Virat would really be walking beside the President’s limousine for the last time. They had been preparing themselves for this, aware that Virat is getting by the years, but no amount of preparation was enough. And their love and respect overflowed.
The animal-man coordination was there for all to see when the President’s Bodyguard the regiment raised back in 1773, escorted the First Citizen from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Flag post on Rajpath. But if you paid more attention to the horses of the President’s Bodyguard you may have found why the Commandant’s Charger, Virat, is held in such high esteem.
Since arriving in the President’s Bodyguard as a 3-year-old from the Remount Training School and Depot, Hempur, in 2003, Virat has had a memorable term. As the Commandant’s Charger for 13 years now, he has escorted the President to the Republic Day celebrations and been at the helm of ceremonial receptions for visiting Heads of States at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Insiders have said his ability to listen to the faintest of whispers of his rider amidst the cheering on Rajpath during Republic Day celebrations makes him the most trusted horse, reassuring all other mounts. The guns boom in the distance, the band plays the National Anthem and there is a mass of spectators but Virat and his team remain calm, exuding confidence.
Hon. Capt. (retd.) Sajjan Singh, a former member of the President’s Bodyguard and a 2002 Asian Games competitor, recalls that he was among those who went to Hempur to secure Virat and four other horses in 2003. “They would have been in training for two years in the Depot and we blooded them in with more vigorous training when they arrive in Delhi,” he said.
“Virat took part in some Dressage competition – I remember he took part in an event the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata where I now train riders – before he was roped in as the Commandant’s Charger,” Sajjan Singh recalled. “Even as I speak, I recall he has the most beautiful bend (the curvature from between the ears to the tail). ”
This Hanoverian, sired in an Equine Breeding Station by Volcano who was imported along with three other stallions and 20 marees in 1997, has earned the reputation of being King among horses. His flowing mane, dazzling tail, a natural high arch of head with a soft eye that could melt any heart. He stands out with his elegance, independent nature and fearlessness.
Dr. Hasneyn Mirza, one of the country’s foremost equine veterinarians, pointed out that though the horses are by nature flight animals, they can be conditioned to be calm under pressure. “With experience, it becomes second nature to them,” he said. “And with his calmness, a horse like Virat can ensure that all around him would be quieter. He is a calm influencer.”
Dr. Mirza pointed out that the mounts of President’s Bodyguard would all go through a rigorous training programme even before they are picked. “ I reckon the President’s Bodyguard will have the first pick from the horses in Remount Training School and Depot in Hempur and Saharanpur,” he said.
Since the riders are mandated to be at least six-feet tall, the mounts are a minimum of 15 hands (157.5cm) tall. The Troopers and Chargers are trained to perform mounted parades. They instinctively respond to their riders’ call, Walking down the Raisina Hill slope or engaged in Collected Trot.
Dr. Mirza points out that Hanoverian horses, warm bloods as they are, are the breed used in equestrian sport. The combination of graceful movement, power and stamina they bring to the table makes them the best suited for sport. But the most important quality is their calm temperament.
And this is what makes Virat a legend in his own right. Those who have been around him for years cannot recall a moment when he has been ruffled. Small wonder then that the Chief of the Army Staff awarded Virat the COAS Commendation Card on Army Day last week, the second time a President’s Bodyguard horse has been given that honour after Fariyad in 2007.
It is never easy walking away from office but there was immense pride when he accomplished his duty. Though he will remain in the President’s Bodyguard stables, his final day at work left not a few pairs of eyes teary. Aware that the stately Virat will not be escorting the President anymore, riders and grooms found it hard to cap their tear sacs.
Truth to tell, the clatter of the hooves of magnificent horses of the President’s Bodyguard will still be heard on Rajpath but Virat has left his indelible stamp with his dignified presence at the start of 13 Republic Day celebrations in his 18 years with the President’s Bodyguard. He is magnificence personified and will be admired and cherished for time to come.
The article was first published on News9Live website here
