New Delhi: As the chime in the distance echoed, Rekha Goyal excitedly grasped the wrist of her classmate Sweta Mahatra sitting by her side, and both of them knew that it was Mahatma Gandhi's favourite music.

As the bells struck discrete note one by one on the towers of North and South blocks on either side of the Rajpath, the two visually challenged girls were as touched by its depth as Bapu was with the all-time favourite hymn 'Abide with Me', composed by W.H. Monk.

Rekha and Sweta were among the 16 visually challenged students who specially came to enjoy the Beating Retreat at Vijay Chowk.

The students sat in rapt attention throughout the one-hour ceremony, mesmerized by the martial music of the massed bands and pipers and their feet tapping with every beat.

But what made them stand up as one could hear them joining the music in whispers was the all too familiar parting shot, - 'Saare Jahaan se Achha' composed by Iqbal.

The Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence for the ticketed show of Beating Retreat at Vijay Chowk yesterday, brought in the 16 Visually Challenged children, from city's Venu Institute of Universal Education, in a goodwill gesture as special guests.