65
years back, a salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National
flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad heralded the historic birth of the Indian Republic on
January 26, 1950; that significant day was 894 days after our country
became a dominion following withdrawal of British Rule. Since then, every year
the day is celebrated with great pride and happiness all over the nation. The
transition of India from
a British colony to a sovereign, secular, and democratic nation was indeed
historical. It was a long journey of around two decades that started with the
conceptualisation of the dream in 1930 to its actual realization in 1950.
The
seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore session
of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929. 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. Many Indian political parties
and Indian revolutionaries from all over the country united to observe the day
with honour and pride.
On
Republic Day, flag hoisting ceremonies and parades by armed forces and school
children are held in different parts of the country. The grandest and most
important of these parades is held at Rajpath in New
Delhi, which showcases a multi-hued image of the country's rich cultural
heritage and military prowess. This parade is presided over by the President of
India. One of the main functions of the Republic Day Parade is to
pay tribute to the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the country and
to confer bravery awards on military persons, citizenry and children for
showing courage in the face of adversity.
The
Republic Day Parade is a grand and pompous event. At Delhi, apart
from the parade armed forces, police and other forces; display of various
tanks, missiles and other equipment added to the arsenal of the military,
vibrant parade comprising tableaux from different States and cultural
dances; - children who have won National Bravery Awards ride past the
spectators on colourfully decorated elephants. The Republic Day Parade is
concluded by dare devil motor cycle riding and a flypast by Indian Air Force
fighter jets over Rajpath, as spectators look on with their hearts filled with
pride.
Every
year, in the Parade, India has
been hosting a Head of State or Government of another country as the state
guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations in New
Delhi.. Before India fought wars with China and Pakistan,
leaders from these countries were invited as state guests for the Republic Day
celebrations. Interestingly, Pakistan Food and Agriculture Minister - Rana
Abdul Hamid, was the second state guest from that country for Republic
Day in 1965, a few days after which the two countries went to a war. Countries
which have been invited multiple times include India's
neighbours (Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius),
defence allies (Russia/USSR, France and Britain),
trade partners (Brazil) and NAM allies (Nigeria, Indonesiaand
erstwhile Yugoslavia). France and Bhutan have
the distinction of being the guest of honour for the maximum (four) number of
times followed by three visits each from Mauritius and
USSR/Russia. Last year, Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe was the Chief Guest and this year. This year it is the distinguished President
of the US Barack Obama. It is a "genuine honour" for US
President Barack Obama to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and
witness India's national day celebrations firsthand, the White House has said.
Obama will witness India's cultural and social heritage as well as its
diversity and defence capability that will be put on display during the parade
at Rajpath on 26 January, after Indian President Pranab Mukherjee hoists the
national flag at Red Fort in the morning.
On
the eve of RD, the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, addressed the Nation
on the eve of the 66th Republic Day conveying warm greetings to all
citizens. He conveyed special greetings to members of our Armed
Forces, Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security Forces.
Twenty
Sixth January holds an everlasting place in our national memory because it is
the day when modern India was born. Under Mahatma Gandhi's moral and political
leadership, the National Congress passed the Purna Swaraj resolution demanding
complete independence from British rule in December 1929. Gandhiji organized
nationwide celebrations on 26 January 1930 as Independence Day. From then on,
the Nation took a pledge on this day every year to carry on the freedom
struggle till we attained it.
Exactly
twenty years later, in 1950, we adopted our charter of modernity, the
Constitution. Tragically, Gandhiji had been martyred two years before, but the
framework of a Constitution that has made India a role model for today's world
was constructed out of his philosophy. Its essence lay in four principles:
democracy; freedom of faith; gender equality; and an economic upsurge for those
trapped in the curse of dire poverty. These were made Constitutional
obligations. Gandhiji's talisman for the country's rulers was simple and
powerful and I quote: "Whenever you are in doubt...recall the face of the
poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself...will it
lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?"
(unquote). Our resolve to eliminate poverty through inclusive development has
to be a step in that direction.
Live
coverage of the Delhi Parade in Doordarshan attracts good audience for a couple
of decades now ….. there will live
webcasts too and the event in You Tube would attract millions.
To
conclude with the words of our Pressident - Our
national ambition is to raise the quality of life of Indians by quantum leaps
and raise generations enlightened by learning, patriotism, compassion, honesty
and a sense of duty. Thomas Jefferson had said and I quote: "Educate and
inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the
preservation of our liberty" (unquote). We must strive for the highest
quality in our educational institutions so that we can take our place, within a
visible future, among the knowledge leaders of the 21st century. I would urge,
in particular, that we lay special stress on the culture of books and reading,
which takes knowledge beyond the classroom and frees imagination from stress of
the immediate and the utilitarian. We must be a creative people, nourished by
innumerable, interlinked rivers of ideas. Our youth must lead the way to
mastery of technology and communication in a universe where the cloud has
become a library without frontiers, and vast opportunity awaits within the
computer in your palm. The 21st century is within India's grasp.
Here are couple of photos of RD Parade at Chennai taken a couple
of years back and some taken during this year’s rehearsal. Let us all celeberate the Day, by hoisting the National Flag and singing
patriotic songs ! Jai Hind..
With regards – S. Sampathkumar.
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