Republic day is celebrated to mark the occasion when India adopted its constitution and transitioned Republic Day commemorates the date on January 26th, 1950, when India adopted its constitution and became a republican nation. India celebrates its independence from British rule on August 15th, which was the day in 1947 when India gained independence from British rule, and January 26th, which commemorates the coming into force of the Constitution of India. This day was decided because, on this day in 1929, the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj, the liberation of India from the British Regime.
History:
India got freedom from the rule of the British Empire on August 15th, 1947, and a committee was formed on August 29 to draft a permanent constitution for Independent India. Dr BR Ambedkar was made the chairman of the committee. The committee submitted the draft of the constitution to the constitution assembly on November 4th, 1947.
Several sessions were held for two years before adopting the constitution. On January 24, 1950, the assembly of 308 members signed two handwritten agreements after making a few changes and thorough discussions. Two days later, the constitution came into power on January 26, 1950. Dr Rajendra Prasad began his tenure as the first President of India on that day.
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Significance:
Republic Day holds importance in the history of India as this was the day when India replaced the British colonial Government of India Act (1935) as the governing text of the country and formally adopted the constitution as the governing document of the nation. The preamble of the constitution of India came into effect on the same day. The constitution establishes the fundamentals of the country and gives rights and duties that are relished by every citizen of the country.
Every year, Republic Day is celebrated with immense enthusiasm and liveliness in different parts of the country. Massive marches are held at Rajpath in New Delhi, which showcase the military and cultural pageantry. Tableaus of different states are displayed, and army personnel march along the Rajpath.
Interesting facts about the Constitution and Republic Day of India:
- The constitution of India was put together by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who was a jurist, an economist, and a prestigious social reformer. He studied the constitutions of 60 other countries while writing the constitution of India.
- The Indian constitution is inspired by the constitutions of many other countries. The Constitution of India is sometimes referred to as the “bag of borrowings” as the fundamental principles of the constitutions are inspired by the constitution of the UK, USA, France, and USSR.
- The constitution of India is handwritten by calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada in a flowing italic style. He was asked by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to write the first copy of the document. He was asked by Nehru how much he would charge. Furthermore, he only had one request: he wanted to sign on every page of the constitution and sign the last page with his grandfather. Each page of the constitution is decorated by artists like Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose from West Bengal.
- India’s constitution is the longest in the world. There are 1.46 lakhs words in the constitution. It took 2 years, 11 months, and 8 days to draft the constitution.
- In the parliament, three original copies of the constitution are kept in helium-filled cases.
- Every year, the Prime Minister or President of any nation is invited as a guest to the parade on the 26th of January. The President of Indonesia, Dr Sukarno, was invited as a guest at the first parade, held on January 26th, 1950.
- The parade event on January 26th begins with the arrival of the President. The bodyguard of the President salutes the national flag, and the gun salute firing matches the time at which the National Anthem is played.
- On the day of the parade, each group covers a distance of 12 kilometres for the rehearsal, and on the day of the parade, a distance of 9 kilometres is covered. Judges judge the marching bands on 200 parameters and the “best marching group” title is awarded.
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