India is going to celebrate its 75th Republic Day on 26 January, which is also known as गणतंत्र दिवस in Hindi. Republic Day gives the people of India an opportunity to celebrate their independence. We celebrate it every year on 26 January. But have you ever wondered why we celebrate Republic Day only on 26 January, and where was the first celebration?
History of Republic Day
In December 1929, the Indian National Congress held its session in Lahore under the chairmanship of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. At this session, they passed a resolution declaring that if the British Government did not grant Dominion status to India by 26 January 1930, India would declare its determination for complete independence and begin its active movement for self-governance within the British Empire.
From that day until independence in 1947, Indians celebrated 26 January as Independence Day. Afterwards, India accepted the actual day of independence, 15th August, to celebrate as Independence Day. After India became independent, the Constituent Assembly was proclaimed and it began its work from 9 December 1946. The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by the elected members of the state legislatures of India.
Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam etc. were the prominent members of this meeting. There were a total of 22 committees in the making of the Constitution, out of which the Drafting Committee was the most prominent and important committee and the entire work of this committee was to ‘write’ or ‘make’ the Constitution. The chairman of the drafting committee was Jurist Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
The drafting committee and especially Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar completed the Indian Constitution in 2 years, 11 months, 18 days and handed over the Constitution of India to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly, on 26 November 1949. India celebrates Constitution Day every year.
At the time of drafting the Constitution, the Constituent Assembly met for a total of 114 days. The press and the public had the freedom to attend its meetings. After several reforms and changes, on 24 January 1950, 284 members of the Assembly signed two handwritten copies of the Constitution. Two days later, on January 26, the Constitution came into force throughout the country. To maintain the importance of 26 January, India recognized its republican form in the Constitution and the Constituent Assembly approved it on this day.
Importance of celebrating Republic Day
India, a land of diversity and rich cultural heritage celebrates Republic Day every year on 26 January with tremendous enthusiasm and patriotic fervor. This important day holds great importance in the hearts of every Indian citizen. It marks the day the Indian Constitution came into force, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the country’s governing document. Celebrating Republic Day is a way to honor our democratic principles, freedom fighters and the spirit of unity that binds the diverse nation together.
Reason for celebrating Republic Day on 26 January
Republic Day is celebrated on 26 January because the Constitution of India came into force on this day. The people of India accepted the Indian Constitution on 26 January 1950. Before this, India was not considered completely independent because the laws made by the British were followed in India. India’s own Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. In this happiness, Republic Day is celebrated every year on 26 January.
Why did they choose January 26 as the date to implement the Constitution?
The Constitution of India was implemented on 26 January 1950. But it is also worth thinking about why the administrators of the country chose this day. The Indian National Congress chose the date of 26 January to implement the Constitution because on this day in 1930, it had declared the complete independence of India. The country implemented the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950 in memory of this day, so that the people could understand and remember its importance.
Where did they celebrate the first Republic Day?
India celebrated its first Republic Day on 26 January 1950. They organized the first Republic Day Parade on 26 January at the Irwin Stadium, now known as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, in front of the Old Fort in Delhi.
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