BEATING RETREAT : 
THE GREAT RETREAT 
OF OUR BAHADUR SENA

Thanks to the 'Parivar', the age old custom of the battle field, now reduced to beating the tabla and stringing the sitar. What next? Ghulam Ali singing ghazals 'Parivar' style :

  "Mohe jamghat pe chappaniya,
    Chhedgayore...."

The three Service Chiefs, bewteen 

themselves, could not convince the Govt 

of the day, that Beating Retreat is NOT a 

musical concert. It is a battle field 

tradition, coming down from ages, even 

though the present day format is of more 

recent origin.


Originally it was known as 'watch

setting' and was initiated at sunset by the

firing of a single round from a gun in the 

evening.

An order from the Army of James II

(England), otherwise James VII of 

Scotland, dated 18 June 1690, had his

drums beating an order for his troops to

retreat. 


A later order, from William III in 1694 

read "The Drum Major and Drummers of 

the Regiment which gives a Captain of the 

Main Guard are to beat the Retreat 

through the large street, or as may be 

ordered. They are to be answered by all 

the Drummers of the guards, and by four 

Drummers of each Regiment in their

respective Quarters". 

All of you soldiers who solicitously courted and voted-in the present regime to unbriddled power, ('Pradhan Sevak' - Ha! Ha! Ha!), now hang your heads in shame at the monstrosity of it all.