26th January as “Republic Day” LAWQ READ.LEARN.SPREAD 26th January as “Republic Day”

Meaning of ‘Republic’ A ‘Republic’ is a form of Government in which power is held by the people and representatives they elect and affairs of State are a "public matter", rather than privately accommodated (such as through inheritance or divine mandate). In modern times, the definition of a Republic is also commonly limited to a Government which excludes a Monarch. More than 150 countries of the world are known to attach the word ‘Republic’ against their names.

What is Republic Day? While for some Countries, Republic Day is the moment at which the Country in its current form was founded, there are others who commemorate it as the day on which a significant change took place in the governance of the Country.

Republic Day of India Republic Day of India is celebrated on 26th January. 26th January is one of the three National holidays and a Gazetted holiday every year. It commemorates the day on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act, 1935 as the governing document of India. The Constitution was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26th November, 1949 but was adopted on 26th January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition toward becoming an independent republic. 26th January, 1950 was the day when the Constitution of India, prepared by Drafting Committee headed by BR Ambedkar, came into force.

Signficance of Republic Day of India January 26 plays a significant role in the lives of every Indian citizen. Republic Day in India is not just a celebration of the birth of its Constitution, but also a commemoration of the day on which we consolidated the contesting ideas of the Nation, and concluded upon the values it enshrined and the path it would take towards social, political and economic objectives. It is the day when Monarchy was demolished from the Country.

Signficance of Republic Day of India (Contd.) This day gave us the power to elect our own representatives to run the democracy. We were freed from the trailing clutches of the British rule. On this day in 1950, India was declared a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and the Constitution assured the citizens of India justice, equality and liberty. On this day in 1950, when the Constitution came into effect, people were assured that could enjoy their 'Fundamental Rights' and had freedom of speech; it was the freedom in real sense as people could express their will and enjoyed equal law.

Significance of the Date 26th January Ever wondered, if India got freedom on August 15, 1947, why it took 2 years 11 months and 18 days to declare India as republic? Indian Constitution was formed by 26th November but the date 26th January was selected for this purpose. Reason behind this was that on this day in 1930, the Declaration of Indian Independence was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress. Hence, waited for two months for the same and celebrated Republic Day of India on 26th January.

History of Republic Day of India India achieved independence from British rule on 15th August 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress. Although India obtained its independence on 15th August 1947, it did not yet had a permanent Constitution; instead, it was based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935, and the Country was a Dominion, with George VI as Head of State and Earl Mountbatten as Governor General. On 29th August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent Constitution, with Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as Chairman.

History of Republic Day of India(Contd.) A draft Constitution was prepared by the Committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4th November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24th January 1950. Two days later, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands. The Constitution of India came into effect only on 26th January 1950, 10.18 AM IST.

Celebration of Republic Day of India Celebration takes place on a grand scale in Delhi, India's capital city. The highlight of the Celebration is the Republic Day Parade. It features contingents and displays from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The parade also includes colourful floats from each of India's States. Before the parade starts, the Prime Minister of India places a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at India Gate, in memory of those soldiers who lost their lives in war. This is followed by two minutes silence. Smaller Republic Day parades are held in each state as well.

Celebration of Republic Day of India (Contd.) The Republic Day Parade in Delhi is followed up with a Beating the Retreat ceremony on 29th January. It features performances by bands of the three wings of the Indian military -- the Army, Navy and Air Force. This type of military ceremony originated in England, and was conceived in India in 1961 to honor the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for the first time after Independence. Since then, it became an annual event with President of India as Chief Guest.

Celebration of Republic Day of India (Contd.) As a symbolic gesture, the Indian Government invites a Chief Guest to attend official Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. The Guest is always a Head of State or Government from a Country that's selected on the basis of strategic, economic and political interests. The inaugural Chief Guest, in 1950, was Indonesian President Sukarno. In 2015, US President Barack Obama became the first US President to be the Chief Guest at Republic Day. In 2018, the leaders of all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries were Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade. This included Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Interesting Facts Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India on Republic Day in 1950, replacing the Governor General of India as Head of State. Chakravarty Rajgopal Acharya was the only first and last Indian Governor General of India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the First President of India and the system of Governor General's was abolished. When India became a Republic, it was the first country within the Commonwealth of Nations to do so. Jana Gana Mana became India's national anthem on Republic Day in 1950. India adopted its National Animal, the Lion head from the Ashoka Pillar in Sarnath, on Republic Day in 1950. The Peacock was subsequently declared as the National Bird on Republic Day in 1963.

A Gift by Republic Day of India Republic Day of India gave us a gift “The Constitution”. Constitution gives us our Fundamental Rights: Right to Equality, Right of Freedom of Speech and Expression, Right to Life, Right Against Exploitation, and many more…… All these Rights conferred to us by our Constitution form the essence of our freedom.

HAPPY 70th REPUBLIC DAY! Freedom in Mind, Faith in Words, Pride in our Heart, Memories in our Souls. Let's take an oath to Respect the Nation and Indian Constitution Always!!