Our India is one of the most populous countries in the world, with a very large population which enhances the Indian cultural identity and diversity across the different geographical and religious lines. Additionally, the different varities of languages which are spoken by people in India also differentiates the culturally endorsed nation. It’s such a pride for us that our India is a land of people with different castes, religion, race and creed, but all the people in India live together with calm and peaceful mind. That’s the reason why India’s cultural traditions are world-famous for the common saying of “unity in diversity”.
History of Independence Day.
The day of 15th August 1947 has been embossed as the Golden Day in the history of India because it was on that day, when a nation which was long supressed under the British Rule found its utterance. It was on 15th August, 1947 when our Country become independent and we won our freedom from British colonial rule after a hard struggle. On this glorious day, at the stroke of midnight hour, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, unfurled the National Flag at the Red Fort for the very first time in the History of India. This historic day marked the end of the 200 years old British colonial reign in the Indian subcontinent. After a long struggle by our Indian Freedom Fighters for complete independence, we can now breathe air in a free and sovereign nation.
It is not just a simple thing and a sentence of no significance that the Britishers have governed in India for about 200 years. Under the oppressive British colonisation, the life of each and every Indian was filled with so many great struggles and much dismal. Most of the Indians were cruelly treated as slaves and had no freedom of speech and expression. Indian rulers were simply puppets in the hands of British officers and the rulers could not take independent decisions.
On this special occasion of Republic day, all the people of India remember the selfless sacrifices and unparalleled contributions of great Indian men and women to achieve the independence of India from the foreign rule. Many great leaders and freedom fighters who fought bravely for our country like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and Sardar Patel are paid great respect by all the citizens for their most valuable contributions made for the independence of India.
Significance of Republic Day:
After we attained independence from the foreign British rule, the Constitution of India was drafted by the drafting committee under the leadership of Dr. B R Ambedkar. Our Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, which declared India as a sovereign and independent nation emerging as a Republic country. January 26th was chosen as the date for the Constitution to come into effect because on this day in 1930, at the Lahore Session, the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj as its main goal. At this session, it was decided to observe 26th November 1930 as a Day of Independence which did not happen. To maintain the historic significance of this day, we celebrate 26th January as Republic Day every year.
Above all, Republic Day has a lot of importance concerned with the history of India because it signifies the right spirit of Independent and individual India.
Republic Day Celebrations
Today, individuals across the country and every one over the globe celebrate Republic Day with abundant zeal, fervour, and nice excitement, particularly within the capital of India, New Delhi. The ceremony for the Republic Day celebration commences with the President’s speech to the nation. He unfurls the National Flag of India as the anthem is being played and twenty-one gun salutes are given. The President then gives away the medals of bravery like Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra to the people from the militia for his or her exceptional courageousness in the field and additionally to the civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their exclusive acts of gallantry in various situations.
The Prime Minister of India then honours the brave soldiers who gave up their lives for protecting our country in many wars by laying a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, a memorial to all the brave soldiers of the country at the India Gate, which is followed by two minutes of complete silence in the memory of our brave soldiers.
Every year a grand parade is being held in the capital, Delhi, from the Rajghat, along the Vijaypath to mark the importance of this occasion. The various regiments of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and also the Indian Air force perform their drill in all their regalia and official trinkets. Even the horses of the cavalry are beautifully adorned for the occasion. It’s followed by a breath-taking fly-past in the sky by the Indian Air Force pilots making the parade more fascinating. Several school children from numerous schools in the capital perform various dance forms in the parade. They spend several days for getting ready for the event.
The most attractive part of the Republic Day parade is the pageant of spectacular displays from different states of the country. Each display of jhankis, folk dances bring out the diversity and richness of the culture of India and the whole show lends a festal air to the occasion. Another important thing concerning Republic Day parade is the invitation of the chief guest. Since the very first Republic Day celebration in 1950, India has been inviting the heads of state of another country across the globe as the guest of honour for the parade.
The parade and the ensuing pageantry are telecast on the National TV and are watched by millions of viewers from every corner of the country.
Conclusion.
The patriotic ardour of the people of India and abroad on this glorious day in the History of India brings the whole country along side all her cultural diversities. But apart from all these celebrations in different parts of the country and across the world, it’s a day to remember all those great leaders and freedom fighters of India who risked their lives for making us independent and giving our country the most powerful and the longest constitution in the world. And with this I would like to conclude this article on Republic Day wishing all my fellow Indians and friends, both, residing in India and abroad a ‘Happy 73rd Republic Day’.