26TH January is a very important day for the
Nation ‘Republic Day’ of the Nation. Republic is from latin ‘res publica’ which
could be translated as ‘a public affair’.
What many may not know is today
is the day when the Indian Tricolour was first unfurled in January 1930 at
Lahore, by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and the declaration of an independent Indian
National Congress was made. The seeds
had been sown at the Lahore session of
the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929 held under the presidency of Pt. Jawarhar Lal
Nehru. Those present in the meeting took a pledge to mark January 26 as
"Independence Day" in order to march towards realizing the dream of
complete independence from the British. The Lahore Session paved way to the
Civil Disobedience movement. It was decided that January 26, 1930 would be
observed as the Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day. The transition of that dream was fraught with
many hurdles, the declaration of Swaraj made on that day was etched in the
memory of all patriotic Indians.
Today, Nation honours the
Soldiers who have performed outstanding deeds of bravery and selfless sacrifice
by awarding bravery medals: Param Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.
Children are also honoured with National Bravery Awards for the highest degree
of valour and selfless sacrifice.
In India, Republic Day
commemorates the date on which India gave to itself a Constitution replacing
the Govt. of India Act of 1935 as the governing document. After independence, laws were based on
modified colonial Govt. Of India Act 1935 – a draft Constitution was prepared
by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on November 4, 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
January 24, 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
January 26, 1950. Following elections on January 21, 1950, Rajendra Prasad was
elected as the president of India. This was, in fact, a deliberate act, signing
the constitution on January 26, to mark and respect the freedom fighters who
wanted January 26, 1947 as India's initial Independence day.
Thus on 26th January, 1950
that Republic of India was formed and the Constitution of India came into
force. Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm throughout the country.
The patriotic fervour of every Indian on this day brings the whole country
united. To honour the occasion, a grand celebration is held at New Delhi, the
national capital. The celebrations begin with spectacular presentation
projecting India's military prowess. The President of India - unfurls the
National Flag, followed by the National Anthem. The different regiments of
Army, Navy and Air Force march in-synchrony from Rashtrapati Bhavan, along the
Rajpath and reach the India Gate saluting the President of India, who is also
the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. There will be Parade in all State Capitals and other places too....
The President, Shri Pranab
Mukherjee, addressed the Nation on the eve of the 64th Republic Day. Here is a small excerpt from the President's
address on the occasion:
My Fellow Citizens
On the eve of our 64th
Republic Day, I extend warm greetings to all of you in India and abroad. I
convey my special greetings to members of our armed forces, paramilitary forces
and internal security forces.
India has changed more in
last six decades than in six previous centuries. This is neither accidental nor
providential; history shifts its pace when touched by vision. The great dream
of raising a new India from the ashes of colonialism reached a historic
denouement in 1947; more important, independence became a turning point for an
equally dramatic narrative, nation-building. The foundations were laid through
our Constitution, adopted on 26 January 1950, which we celebrate each year as
Republic Day. Its driving principle was a compact between state and citizen, a
powerful public-private partnership nourished by justice, liberty and equality.
India's most impregnable
asset is self-belief. Each challenge becomes an opportunity to strengthen our
resolve to achieve unprecedented economic growth and social stability. Such
resolve must be nourished by an avalanche of investment, particularly in better
and greater education. Education is the ladder that can help those at the
bottom to rise to the pinnacles of professional and social status. Education is
the mantra that can transform our economic fortunes and eliminate the gaps that
have made our society unequal. So far education has not reached, to the extent
desired, to those most in need of this ladder. India can double its growth rate
by turning today's disadvantaged into multiple engines of economic development.
On our 64th Republic Day,
there may be some reason for concern, but none for despair. If India has
changed more in six decades than six previous centuries, then I promise you
that it will change more in the next ten years than in the previous sixty.
India's enduring vitality is at work.
Even the British sensed
that they were leaving a land which was very different from the one they had
occupied. At the base of the Jaipur Column in Rashtrapati Bhavan there is an
inscription:
"In thought faith...
In word wisdom...
In deed courage...
In life service...
So may India be great
"
The spirit of India is
written in stone.
JAI HIND!
in the service of
motherland – S. Sampathkumar.
