ONE NATION, ONE VISION , ONE IDENTITY
HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY
LET SHINE TO MAKE INDIA BRIGHT
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
(External website that opens in a new window) 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.
Journey of Indian Republic
68 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 says.
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