What is the republic day “26th January”

Have you ever wondered why on 26^th January Republic Day is celebrated?

Every year on January 26th, Republic Day is observed to honour the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which took effect on this day in the year 1950. Three dates in Indian political history are particularly significant: 15 August 1947, the day India attained independence; 26 November 1949, the day the Indian Constituent Assembly enacted the Constitution of India; and 26 January 1950, the day the Constitution went into effect.

While celebrating on August 15 is a fairly obvious decision, it is puzzling why the members of the Indian Constituent Assembly decided to delay the Constitution’s enforcement by two months when it was already ratified and enacted on November 26, 1949. Why is today called Republic Day?

In his book ‘India After Gandhi’, historian and author Ramchandra Guha argues that the answer is surprisingly tied to the decision—or lack thereof—to declare August 15, 1947, as the day of Independence. He states: “After 1930, the Indians who supported the Congress observed January 26 as Independence Day every year. However, on August 15, 1947, the British decided to transfer control when they had fully left the subcontinent. The Viceroy, Lord Mountabatten, chose this day because it marked the second anniversary of the Japanese surrender to the Allies in the Second World War. He and the other candidates for office were unwilling to hold off until January 26, 1948, as some others would have wanted “

When the issue of the adoption and enactment of the Constitution came up, many believed it necessary to celebrate the document on a day associated with national pride and turned to what would’ve otherwise been a natural choice- the 26th day of January to mark the Constitution formally coming into force. However, as stated above, “freedom finally came on a day that resonated with imperial pride rather than nationalist sentiment.” Following the Constitution’s adoption and enactment on November 26, 1949, January 26, 1950 emerged as the obvious date for its implementation in order to honour the first decision Indians made to declare and celebrate their independence.

The Indian National Congress (INC) issued the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) on January 26, 1930, rejecting the British Regime’s offer of Dominion status. The Congress party proclaimed that Indians will observe January 26 as “Independence Day” in 1930. On the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the President of the Congress party, raised the tricolour. The Purna Swaraj resolution is considered by academics to be a crucial part of the Independence movement’s evolving approach in dealing with the British: the demand for liberation is now presented in the language of justice and not charity. With this historical significance in mind, the 26th of January 1950 was chosen to mark the beginning of another significant event that would alter India’s history: the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which would turn the country into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic and be commemorated as Republic Day.

The 75th Republic Day should be used as an opportunity to reflect on all that needs to be done to guarantee Purna Swaraj to all citizens through the progressive realisation of all the guarantees of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity provided by the Constitution, as well as the greatness of the moment a formerly colony took its destiny in its own hands and declared itself to be a Republic.

Wishing you a very happy 75th Republic Day to all fellow Citizens!

Jai Hind!