January 26, 1950, marks the day that Free India became a republic nation. Our beloved Babasaheb Ambedkar had finished the daunting task of drafting the constitution and it was ready to be officially signed. Each year we celebrate the day with tears of joy in our eyes and sense of pride in our hearts. It was on this day in 1930 that the 17-year long fight began to free our nation from the hands of the British. It was on this day that India showed to the world that it is a force to be reckoned with.
1. Earlier, January 26, 1930, was noted as the Indian Independence Day or Purna Swaraj Divas as this is the day the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) from the British rule.
2. As August 15, 1947, became the official Indian Independence Day, the constitution was adopted on this day, to make a note of the 1930 declaration!
3. President Sukarno of Indonesia was the first chief guest on the Republic day celebrations held in 1950.
4. Abide With Me, a Christian hymn by Scottish Anglican Henry Francis Lyte, is one song that is always played during the R-day celebrations, as this was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite!
5. The R-day celebrations aren't just a one-day affair. It is spread over 3 days, with the Beating Retreat ceremony closing off things on January 29th.
6. Our leaders borrowed the best concepts from other countries to devise the Indian Constitution. The concepts of liberty, equality, and fraternity came from the French, the emergency carriage system from Germany, directorial elements from Ireland, division of power between union and state from Canada while the Five-Year Plan was borrowed from the USSR.
7. The Indian constitution is the longest in the world, has 448 articles, 22 Parts & Dr. B. R. Ambedkar took 2 years and 11 months to draft it, 2 copies have been hand-written, one in English and the other in Hindi!
8. On this day in 1950 that the first president of Free India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad took the oath at the Darbar Hall of the Govt. house.
9. On January 26, 1961, the chief guest for the R-day celebrations was Queen Elizabeth of England!
Showing off eh?
10. It is on this day that gallantry awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Kirti Chakra are presented to those who have shown great courage, character and notable services to the nation.
11. The Indian motto of Satyameva Jayate was taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, Atharvaveda & was translated to Hindi by Abid Ali in 1911.
