Republic Day (India)
| Republic Day | |
|---|---|
 Soldiers of the Madras Regiment during the annual Republic Day Parade in 2004 |
|
| Observed by | India |
| Type | National |
| Date | 26 January |
| Celebrations | Parades, distribution of sweets in schools and cultural programmes |
In India, Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.[1]
The 26th of January was chosen to honour the declaration of independence of 1930. It is one of the three national holidays in India. While the main parade takes place in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the president, the anniversary is also celebrated with varying degrees of formality in state capitals and other centres.
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[edit] History
Although India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947, it did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935, and the country was a Dominion, with George VI as head of state and Earl Mountbatten as Governor General. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr.B. R. Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.
A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 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 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the nation. The Indian National Congress and other parties had been celebrating 26 January as a symbol of Independence, even before India actually became independent. Thus, applying the constitution on 26 January marks and respects this date, the freedom struggle, and the freedom fighters.
The amending mechanism was lauded even at the time of introduction by Ambedkar in the following words: "We can therefore safely say that the Indian federation will not suffer from the faults of rigidity or legalism. Its distinguished feature is that it is a flexible federation.
"The three mechanisms of the system derived by the Assembly, contrary to the predictions, have made the constitution flexible at the same time protected the rights of the states. They have worked better than the amending process in any other country where Federalism and the British Parliamentary system jointly formed the basis of the constitution."[cite this quote]
What Sir Anthony Eden, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (April 1955 to January 1957), said at the time of the emergence of Indian Republic is relevant in this context. He said, "Of all the experiments in government, which have been attempted since the beginning of time, I believe that the Indian venture into parliamentary government is the most exciting. A vast subcontinent is attempting to apply to its tens and thousands of millions a system of free democracy... It is a brave thing to try to do so. The Indian venture is not a pale imitation of our practice at home, but a magnified and multiplied reproduction on a scale we have never dreamt of. If it succeeds, its influence on Asia is incalculable for good. Whatever the outcome we must honour those who attempt it."[2]
Even more meaningful was the opinion expressed by an American Constitutional authority, Granville Austin, who wrote that what the Indian Constituent Assembly began was "perhaps the greatest political venture since that originated in Philadelphia in 1787."[cite this quote]
Austin has also described the Indian Constitution as 'first and foremost a social document.' ... "The majority of India's constitutional provisions are either directly arrived at furthering the aim of social revolution or attempt to foster this revolution by establishing conditions necessary for its achievement."[cite this quote]
[edit] Celebrations
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To mark the importance of the occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace), along the Rajpath, past India Gate.[3] Prior to its commencement, the Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, a memorial to unknown soldiers at the India Gate at one end of Rajpath, which is followed by two minutes silence in the memory of unknown soldiers. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defence of sovereignty of their country. Thereafter he/she reaches the main dais at Rajpath to join other dignitaries, subsequently the President arrives along with the chief guest of the occasion. First he unfurls the National flag, as the National Anthem is played, and a 21-gun salute is given. Next, important awards like the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra are given away by the President, before the regiments of Armed Forces start their march past. The President comes forward to award the medals of bravery to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also the civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations.
The different regiments of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force march past in all their finery and official decorations. The President of India who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute. The crème of N. C. C. cadets, selected from all over the country consider it an honour to participate in this event, as do the school children from various schools in the capital. They spend many days preparing for the event and no expense is spared to see that every detail is taken care of, from their practice for the drills, the essential props and their uniforms. Floats exhibiting the cultures of the various states and regions of India are in the grand parade, which is broadcast nationwide on television and radio. These moving exhibits depict scenes of activities of people in those states and the music and songs of that particular state accompany each display. Each display brings out the diversity and richness of the culture of India and the whole show lends a festive air to the occasion. Also part of the parade are children who win the National Bravery Award for the year.[4] The parade also includes other vibrant displays and floats and traditionally ends with a flypast by the Indian Air Force jets.
Celebrations are also held in state capitals, where the Governor of the state unfurls the national flag. If the Governor of the state is unwell, or is unavailable for some reason, the Chief Minister of the state assumes the honour of unfurling the National Flag of India.
The patriotic fervor of the people on this day brings the whole country together even in her essential diversity. Every part of the country is represented in occasion, which makes the Republic Day the most popular of all the national holidays of India.
[edit] Beating Retreat
The Beating Retreat ceremony officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities. It is conducted on the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. It is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The venue is Raisina Hills and an adjacent square, Vijay Chowk, flanked by the north and south block of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace) towards the end of Rajpath.
The Chief Guest of the function is the President of India who arrives escorted by the 'President's Bodyguards' (PBG), a cavalry unit. When the President arrives, the PBG commander asks the unit to give the National Salute, which is followed by the playing of the Indian National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, by the Massed Bands, and at the same time by the unfurling of the Flag of India on the flagpole. The ceremony was started in the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the ceremony of display by the massed bands in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands Navy and Air Force take part which play popular tunes like Abide With Me, Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Hymn, and Saare Jahan Se Achcha at the end.[4][5][6] 2012
[edit] Chief guest
Since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honor for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. During 1950-1954, Republic Day celebrations were organized at different venues (like Irwin Stadium, Kingsway, Red Fort and Ramlila Grounds). It was only starting 1955 when the parade in its present form was organized at Rajpath. The guest country is chosen after a deliberation of strategic, economic and political interests. During 1950s-1970s, a number of NAM and Eastern Bloc countries were hosted by India. In the post-Cold War era, India has also invited several Western leaders on a state visit during the Republic Day. It is notable that 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 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 neighbors (Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius), defense allies (Russia/USSR, France and Britain), trade partners (Brazil) and NAM allies (Nigeria, Indonesia and erstwhile Yugoslavia). France has the distinction of being the guest of honor for the maximum (four) number of times followed by three visits each from Bhutan, Mauritius and USSR/Russia. It is also worth noting that no President of the United States has been a state guest of honor.
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Republic Day (India) |
- Independence Day (India)
- History of India
- Republic Day in other countries
[edit] References
- ^ "Introduction to Constitution of India". Ministry of Law and Justice of India. 29 July 2008. http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/introd.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ^ Outgoing President K R Narayanan's farewell speech at the function hosted by the speaker of the Lok Sabha in the Central Hall of Parliament on July 22 2002
- ^ http://www.efi-news.com/2012/01/india-celebrates-63rd-republic-day.html
- ^ a b National Bravery Awards-2005 Press Release, Govt. of India.
- ^ "Beating Retreat weaves soul-stirring musical evening". The Times of India. Jan 29, 2011. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Beating-Retreat-weaves-soul-stirring-musical-evening/articleshow/7386283.cms.
- ^ "Martial music rings down the curtain". The Times of India. Jan 30, 2011. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Martial-music-rings-down-the-curtain/articleshow/7386605.cms.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Choosing the Republic Day chief guest: continuing principle, changing preferences Indian Express
- ^ http://www.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/SW29.pdf
- ^ Invited with eye on pragmatism The Hindu
- ^ "Dr. Rajendra Prasad, correspondence and select documents: Volume seventeen ... - Rajendra Prasad - Google Books". Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=QfqUPmd1nvQC&pg=PA375&lpg=PA375&dq=Voroshilov+visited+india+january&source=bl&ots=DlQvYLLddW&sig=y2KZqSLRHhhvFVMqY4m_BaSFWPE&hl=en&ei=e_b3TL6ZHojUtQPczfn-AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Voroshilov%20visited%20india%20january&f=false. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ "Indian information - India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting - Google Boeken". Books.google.com. 1957-01-01. http://books.google.com/books?ei=RNH6TMSOIY64sQO0lKj3DQ&ct=result&id=41jVAAAAMAAJ&dq=Norodom+Sihanouk+visit+to+india+january+1963+republic+day&q=invitation+1963+radhakrishnan#search_anchor. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ Revolutionary Socialist Party (1968). The Call. S. Bhattacharya. http://books.google.com/books?id=56sgAQAAIAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
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- ^ India. Ministry of External Affairs (1972). Foreign affairs record. http://books.google.com/books?id=y1IgAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. The Times of India. 1974. http://books.google.com/books?id=nw62AAAAIAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division (1973). Indian and foreign review. Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. http://books.google.com/books?id=9mhDAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ India. Parliament. House of the People; India. Parliament. Lok Sabha (1975). Lok Sabha debates. Lok Sabha Secretariat.. http://books.google.com/books?id=BVnVAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ Eastern economist. 1977. http://books.google.com/books?id=s94nAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Patrick J. Hillery". Clarelibrary.ie. http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/projects/hillery_exhibition/5_visits.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Bilateral Visits". Hcindia-au.org. http://www.hcindia-au.org/bilateral_visits.html. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Annual REPORT 1980-81". mealib.nic.in. http://mealib.nic.in/reports/80.81.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Annual REPORT 1981-82". mealib.nic.in. http://mealib.nic.in/reports/81-82.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Annual REPORT 1983-84". mealib.nic.in. http://mealib.nic.in/reports/83.84.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Annual REPORT 1984-85". mealib.nic.in. http://mealib.nic.in/reports/84.85.htm. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "India-Kiribati Relations". mealib.nic.in. http://www.mea.gov.in/meaxpsite/foreignrelation/23fr01.pdf. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
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- ^ "Annual Report". meacommunity.org. http://meacommunity.org/Documents/MEA%20Annual%20Report%201986.doc. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ "Annual Report". meacommunity.org. http://meacommunity.org/Documents/ANNUAL%20REPORT%201987.doc. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
- ^ http://meacommunity.org/Documents/ANNUAL%20REPORT%201988.doc
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Choosing R-Day chief guest: Behind the warm welcome, a cold strategy Indian Express, Jan 25 2010
- ^ "General South African History timeline" sahistory.org.za Accessed on 13 June 2008.
- ^ "Indonesian President next R-Day parade chief guest - Rediff.com India News". Rediff.com. http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/aug/03/indonesian-president-next-republic-day-parade-chief-guest.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) (2012-01-20). "Thai PM to be chief guest on India's Republic Day". Deccanherald.com. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/208764/thai-pm-chief-guest-indias.html. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
