Indian Republic Day 2024: India is all set to celebrate its 75th Republic Day on January 26, 2024, with great enthusiasm and patriotism. Republic Day marks the adoption of the Constitution of India, which came into effect on this day in 1950, making India a sovereign, democratic and republic nation. The day also commemorates the historic declaration of Purna Swaraj or complete independence from the British rule in 1930. On this occasion, let us look at some of the date, history, significance, celebrations and important facts related to Republic Day.
Date
Republic Day is celebrated every year on January 26, as it was on this date in 1950 that the Constitution of India replaced the Government of India Act, 1935, as the governing document of the country. The Constitution of India was drafted by a committee headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, after almost three years of deliberations and amendments. However, it was decided to enact the Constitution on January 26, 1950, to honour the date of the first declaration of independence in 1930.
History
The history of Republic Day goes back to the freedom struggle of India against the British colonial rule. On January 26, 1930, the Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, proclaimed Purna Swaraj or complete independence from the British Raj, and rejected the Dominion status offered by the British. This day was observed as the Independence Day of India until August 15, 1947, when India finally attained freedom from the British rule.
However, India did not have a permanent constitution at the time of independence, and was governed by the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935. To draft a constitution for the newly independent nation, a Constituent Assembly was formed, consisting of representatives from various regions and communities of India. The Constituent Assembly held its first session on December 9, 1946, and appointed a drafting committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, to prepare a draft of the constitution. The drafting committee submitted its draft to the Constituent Assembly on February 21, 1948, and after several discussions and modifications, the final draft was approved on November 26, 1949. The Constitution of India was then signed by 284 members of the Constituent Assembly, and came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a republic.
Significance
Republic Day is a day of great significance for the people of India, as it symbolises the end of colonial rule and the establishment of a self-governing nation. It also reflects the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution of India, which is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution of India not only defines the structure and functions of the government, but also guarantees the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens. It also upholds the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, which were the guiding principles of the freedom fighters and the makers of the constitution.
Republic Day is also a day to celebrate the diversity and unity of India, as it showcases the rich cultural and social heritage of the country. The Republic Day parade, which is held in the capital city of New Delhi, is a grand spectacle of the nation’s progress and achievements in various fields. The parade also features the display of the defence and security forces, as well as the cultural and folk performances from different states and regions of India. The parade is attended by the President of India, who is the chief guest of the event, and other dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Justice, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the foreign guests. The parade is also broadcasted live on various television and radio channels, and is watched by millions of people across the country and abroad.
Celebrations
Republic Day is celebrated with much fervour and patriotism across the country. Apart from the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, various other events and programmes are organised at the state and district levels, as well as in schools, colleges, offices and residential areas. Some of the common ways of celebrating Republic Day are:
- Hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem
- Paying tribute to the martyrs and heroes of the freedom struggle and the defence forces
- Watching the Republic Day parade and the cultural programmes on television or online
- Participating in quiz, essay, debate, painting and other competitions on the theme of Republic Day
- Wearing tricolour clothes, badges, stickers and accessories
- Decorating the houses, streets and buildings with tricolour flags, balloons, flowers and lights
- Distributing sweets, chocolates and gifts among children and neighbours
- Sending Republic Day greetings, messages, quotes and wishes to friends and family
Important Facts
Here are some of the important facts about Republic Day that you should know:
- The first Republic Day of India was celebrated on January 26, 1950, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad taking oath as the first President of India at the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The chief guest of the first Republic Day parade was the Indonesian President Sukarno.
- The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution in the world, containing 395 articles, 22 parts and 12 schedules. It has been amended 103 times till date.
- The original copies of the Constitution of India are written in Hindi and English, and are kept in helium-filled cases in the Parliament House.
- The national emblem of India, which is adopted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, was adopted on the same day as the Constitution of India, i.e., January 26, 1950. The emblem features four lions standing back to back, symbolising power, courage, pride and confidence. The emblem also bears the motto “Satyameva Jayate”, which means “Truth Alone Triumphs”.
- The national flag of India, which is a horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and green, with a navy blue wheel in the centre, was designed by Pingali Venkayya, and was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947. The saffron colour represents sacrifice and courage, the white colour represents peace and truth, the green colour represents prosperity and growth, and the wheel represents the law and dharma.
- The national anthem of India, which is “Jana Gana Mana”, was composed by Rabindranath Tagore, and was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on December 27, 1911. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of India on January 24, 1950, two days before the Republic Day. The national anthem is played for 52 seconds, and is sung in the first stanza of the original Bengali version.
- The national song of India, which is “Vande Mataram”, was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, and was first published in his novel Anandamath in 1882. It was also sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress in 1896. The national song is played for 1 minute and 5 seconds, and is sung in the first two stanzas of the original Sanskrit version.
- The chief guest of the Republic Day parade is usually a foreign head of state or government, who is invited by the President of India as a mark of friendship and cooperation. The first chief guest of the Republic Day parade was the Indonesian President Sukarno in 1950, and the last chief guest was the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no chief guest for the Republic Day parade in 2021. The chief guest for the Republic Day parade in 2024 is yet to be announced.
- The Republic Day parade is held along the Rajpath, which is a ceremonial boulevard that connects the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate. The parade starts from the Vijay Chowk and ends at the Red Fort. The parade covers a distance of 8.5 km and lasts for about 90 minutes. The parade is commanded by the Parade Commander, who is a senior officer of the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force. The parade consists of various contingents, including the President’s Bodyguard, the Armed Forces, the Paramilitary Forces, the Police Forces, the NCC, the NSS, the Tableaux, the Cultural Performances, the Children, and the Motorcycle Display Teams.
- The Beating Retreat ceremony is held on January 29, three days after the Republic Day, at the Vijay Chowk. The ceremony marks the end of the Republic Day celebrations, and features the bands of the three wings of the Armed Forces playing various tunes and melodies. The ceremony ends with the lowering of the national flag and the playing of the national anthem. The ceremony is also attended by the President of India, who is the chief guest of the event.
