Dear BG'ians,
We the youth of India should take the pledge that till our last breath we will fight terrorism, we will protect our mother INDIA with all we have.
Happy Republic Day!!!
Republic
Day
Each year, 26th January is a day on which every Indian heart
fills up with patriotic fervour and immense love for motherland. There are many
significant memories as it was this 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.
26th January, 1950 was the day when the Indian republic and
its constitution came into force. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi
was declared as the official language of India.
Celebrations Galore
Republic Day is celebrated every year with much enthusiasm
all over the country and to mark the importance of this occasion, a grand
parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati
Bhavan (President's House), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the
historic Red Fort.
The event begins with the Prime Minister of India laying a
wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, commemorating all the soldiers
who sacrificed their lives for the country. Soon, a 21 gun salute is presented,
the President unfurls the National Flag and the National Anthem is played. This
marks the beginning of the parade.
The President is accompanied by a notable foreign Head of
State - who is the invited Chief Guest at the celebration.
The Parade begins with winners of gallantry awards passing
the President in open jeeps. President of India, who is the Commander-in-Chief
of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute at the grand parade. The Indian Military
also showcases its latest acquisitions such as tanks, missiles, radars, etc.
Soon after, awards and medals of bravery are given by the
President to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in
the field and also to those civilians who have distinguished themselves by
their different acts of valour in different situations.
After this, helicopters from the armed forces fly past the
parade area showering rose petals on the audience.
The military parade is followed by a colourful cultural
parade. India's rich cultural heritage is depicted in the form of tableaus from
various states. Each state depicts its unique festivals, historical locations
and art. This exhibition of diversity and richness of the culture of India
lends a festive air to the occasion.
Tableaus from various government department and ministries
of India are also presented displaying their contribution towards the progress
of the nation. The most cheered section of the parade is when the children who
have won National Bravery Awards ride past the dais on elephants.
School-children from all over the country also participate in the parade
showcasing folk dances and singing to the tunes of patriotic songs.
The parade also includes displays of skilful motor-cycle
rides, by the Armed Forces personnel. The most eagerly awaited part of the
parade is the fly past, put on by the Indian Air Force. The fly past marks the
conclusion of the parade, when fighter planes of the IAF roar past the dais,
symbolically saluting the President.
Live Webcast of the Republic Day Parade is made available
every year to millions of surfers who wish to view the parade over the
Internet. After the event is over, the exclusive footage is made available as
'video on demand'.
Celebrations, though on a relatively smaller scale, are also
held in all state capitals, where the Governor of the state unfurls the
Tricolour. Similar celebrations are also held at district headquarters, sub
divisions, talukas, and panchayats.
PM Rally
The Republic Day celebration is a three day extravaganza and
post this celebration at India Gate, on the 27th January, a Prime Minister's
Rally is held by a crème of N.C.C cadets displaying various breath-taking
performances and drill.
Lok Tarang
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in association
with seven Zonal Cultural Centres organises "Lok Tarang, - National Folk
Dance Festival" every year from 24th to 29th January. This festival
provides a unique opportunity for people to witness colourful, vibrant and
authentic folk dances drawn from various parts of the country.
Beating the Retreat
Beating The Retreat officially denotes the end of Republic
Day festivities. All important Government Buildings are beautifully decorated
with lights every evening from 26th to 29th. Beating the Retreat ceremony is
conducted on the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day.
The ceremony starts by the massed bands of the three services marching in
unison, playing popular marching tunes.
The drummers also give a solo performance (known as the
Drummer's Call). Followed by this the drummers play Abide With Me (which is
also said to be GandhiJi's favourite) and the chimes made by the tubular bells,
placed quite at a distance, create a mesmerising ambience.
This is followed by the bugle call for Retreat, the band
master then marches to the President and requests permission to take the bands
away, and informs that the closing ceremony is now complete. The bands march
back playing a popular martial tune Saare Jahan Se Achcha.
At exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the
National Flag is lowered, and the National Anthem is sung, bringing the
Republic Day celebrations to a formal end.
History
Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it
declared itself a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state with the adoption of
the Constitution on January 26, 1950.
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 that day. Thereafter 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and was
recognised as the Republic Day of India.
The Constitution gave the citizens of India the power to
choose their own government and paved the way for democracy. Dr. Rajendra
Prasad took oath as the first President of India at the Durbar Hall in
Government House and this was followed by the Presidential drive along a
five-mile route to the Irwin Stadium, where he unfurled the National Flag.
Journey of Indian Republic
67 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; 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. A look into the journey that
led to the birth of Indian Republic will make our celebrations more meaningful.
Lahore Session of the Indian
National Congress
The seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore
session of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929.
The session was 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. Many Indian political parties and Indian
revolutionaries from all over the country united to observe the day with honour
and pride.
Indian Constituent Assembly
Meetings
The Indian Constituent Assembly, which was constituted as a
result of the negotiations between the Indian leaders and members of the
British Cabinet Mission, had its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The
Objective of the Assembly was to give India a constitution, which would serve a
lasting purpose and hence appointed a number of committees to thoroughly
research the various aspects of the proposed constitution. The recommendations
were discussed, debated and revised many times before the Indian Constitution
was finalized and officially adopted three years later on November 26, 1949.
Constitution came into force
Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it
enjoyed the true spirit of Independence on January 26, 1950 when the
Constitution of India finally came into force. The Constitution gave the
citizens of India the power to govern themselves by choosing their own
government. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, took oath as the first President of India at
the Durbar Hall in the Government House and this was followed by the
Presidential drive along a five-mile route to the Irwin Stadium, where he
unfurled the National Flag.
Ever since the historic day, January 26 is celebrated with
festivities and patriotic fervor all around the country. The day owes its
importance to the constitution of India that was adopted on this day. On this
Republic Day, read what the great Constitution of India, that propounds liberal
democracy, has in its store. Let's also feel proud in pronouncing what the
Preamble to our Constitution says.
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