French President Francois Hollande is the fifth head of state to have been invited from France making the country the ‘most invited’ nation during India’s Republic Day celebrations.
From Indonesian President Dr Sukarno, who was the chief guest at the first Republic Day, to Hollande, a total of 58 foreign heads of state have participated as guests of honour.
Here is a graphic that shows all the chief guests who were invited by India in the last 67 years.
France was invited five times, followed by Bhutan (four), Mauritius (three), Nepal, Pakistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, UK, Yugoslavia and the USSR were all invited twice each. Rest were all invited only once.
Erstwhile Yugoslavia’s former President Josip Broz Tito and former King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck have had the distinction of being guests of honour twice.
The years 1968 and 1974 were unique as India hosted two chief guests on both the years.