26th January-1950 — The Historic Day of India

In India there are three National Historic Days, on the event of India’s Independence from British Rule i.e. on 15^th August 1947,  Indian Republic Day on 26^th January 1950 and Gandhi Jayanthi on 2^nd October, 1869. These dates 15^th August, 26^th January and 2^nd October have been given as National Holidays to celebrate the occasion. We all need to reminisce those days in history which gave a pillared phase of India’s forte.

Let us travel into the past and visualise the transit through this article.

The great eminent leaders; freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and many more , have victoriously struggled for decades against the dominant British rule and brought in the total Independence . Eventually, the Last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, had to compromise and agree the terms for Independence on 15th August, 1947.  Thereby India and Pakistan were partitioned and declared Independent Countries. Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of India was assassinated on 30 January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse. He fired point blank with three bullets on the chest with Beretta, 9mm pistol.

The Newspaper published on 15th August, 1947

The Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, declaring the Independence

Mahatma Gandhi with Lord Mountbatten and his wife, Edwina

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.

The draft of the constitution was prepared and placed by the Constituent Assembly in the year 4^th November, 1947. This assembly conducted open sessions to public for a duration of 3 years approximately. The death of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was mourned throughout the world. There after it created a lot of regional disputes. Therefore after the chaos subsided, on 26^th November, 1949, The First Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution. This Day is also recognised as The Constitution Day.

The Constituent Assembly took the duration of 3 years to draft the Constitution

The Great architect of Indian Constitution is B.R. Ambedkar. The Constitution is a fundamental law of the country, which reflects fundamental principles on which the government of that country is based. It was drafted by the  Drafting Committee which leaded by the chairman Dr B R Ambedkar and Six Members; N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyer, KM Munshi, Mohammad Saadullah, N Madhav Rao and TT Krishnachari. Initially there were 395 articles and 8 schedules, now there are 444 articles which are divided into 24 parts and 12 schedules.

Dr. B R Ambedkar

Dr. B R Ambedkar along with his Drafting Committee

The National Assembly signed the Final Hindi and English Version of the Constitution on 24^th January, 1950. On 26^th January, 1950, the Constitution was accepted, declared and put in to force. Therefore India celebrates the day as The Republic Day. Justice in social, economic and political policies, Liberty, Equality of Status and Fraternity (Unity of the Nation) are the basic objectives for being Republic. The date of declaring Republic, was also the anniversary of the Purna Swaraj Day(26^th January, 1930).Indian National Congress had demanded as well as pledged for Purna Swaraj i.e. Full Independence from British rule on 26^th January, 1930.

The Constitution gave the power to the people to choose their own governing bodies. Dr Rajendra Prasad swore in as the First President at the Durbar Hall in the Government House, thereafter the Tri Color Indian Flag was unfolded at the Irwin Stadium. Thus this day is rejoiced as the Republic Day and sends a patriotic fever in the blood of each Indian citizen.

The First Indian President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad

B R Ambedkar submitting the Constitution to Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Signing the copy of the Constitution

Copy of the Signatories of the Constitution

The Constitution of India

The President addressing the Crowd at Irwin Stadium

India has been inviting the head of state or government of another country as the Chief Guest of honour since 1950. The First Chief Guest was the Indonesian President, Sukarno.

India had witnessed the magnificent celebration of The Republic Day  at the Irwin Stadium commemorated by the President of India.

The newspaper published about Indian becoming Republic

This year, 26^th January, 2017, India had celebrated the 68^th anniversary of the Republic Day. The momentous day commenced with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi paying homage to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyothi at India Gate. The Prime Minister and the President, Pranab Mukherjee, unfurled the National Flag at Rajpath, the national anthem was also sung along with a 21 gun salute. The Chief Guest of honor was Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayad Al Nahyan, the crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and a son of UAE’s founding President. The contingent of UAE soldiers also marched in the parade for the first time.