Dr. Banarsi Lal
Every year 26th of January is celebrated as the Republic Day in India, a day of immense pride and significance.This day marks the adoption of India’s constitution and the country’s transition to a republic on 26th of January,1950.This year India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day, a milestone that highlights the progress the nation has made since it became a republic.26th January ,2026 will be day to reflect on the journey India has undertaken to ensure justice,equality and democracy for all its citizens.This day holds great importance in India’s history as it symbolizes the transition from a colonial past to a democratic ,sovereign nation. This day is etched in the heart of every Indian.This day is a moment of pride for every Indian, a day to honour the journey of our nation from independence to becoming a republic.This day is celebrated with great zeal and pride. It’s not a commemoration, it’s a reaffirmation of the power vested in the people, emphasizing their collective responsibility in shaping country’s destiny.This day reminds us our duties as citizens and the sacrifices made by the countless individuals to secure our freedom.This day is not just about celebrating the past but also about taking responsibility for our future. This day is marked as the day when India’s Constitution came into effect, signifying a monumental shift from a constitutional monarchy to a republic. On this day we pay tribute to the visionaries who tirelessly worked towards crafting a Constitution that would serve as guiding light for a diverse and vibrant nation. On this day we celebrate the anniversary of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic.Though India became a free nation on 15th of August,1947,it declared itself a Sovereign,Democratic and Republic state with the adoption if the Constitution on 26th of January ,1950. On this day we proudly fly our tricolor flag, sing patriotic songs and pay tributes to our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the nation. The significance of the republic date lies in association with the fundamental document that outlines the rights, duties and aspirations of every citizen of the nation. This day encapsulates the spirit of India’s journey towards self-governance. This day is a testament to the unity and diversity of the country, echoed in the grand parades down the Rajpath in New Delhi and the Republic Day celebration across the nation. It is a celebration of liberty, equality and fraternity.The importance of 26th January can be understood not only from a political standpoint but also from a cultural and historical perspective.
The word democracy has been derived from the Greek word ‘demokratia’ which consists of the two components namely ‘demos’ meaning people and ‘kratos’ meaning rule. Together we mean people’s rule. The western scholars such as Bertland Russell and Will Durant trace the origin of the democratic to the city of Athens in Attica which flourished in the fifth century B.C. The word ‘Republic’ is of Latin origin meaning a state in which the government is carried on by the people or through their elected representatives. The essence of an ideal republic is free and enlightened citizenship. In such a republic, the citizen is a sovereign and subject. As a sovereign he enacts laws, as a subject he obeys them. The corner-stone of a republic is equality and its prime essentiality is equality. The Sanskritologists believe that the republics first came to India. The Lichhvis and the Mallas of the pre-Mauryan India of the Buddhist times were the earliest republics of the time. Even much before Lichhavis and Mallas, there were Panchayat republics in the Vedic Age. The Vedic Sabha and the Vedic Samiti were not only elected but also representative in character with full voting rights to women. These institutions were probing the conduct of kings, abuse of power by the powerful and misdeeds of the ministers. The 73rd and the 74th Constitutional Amendments derive their inspiration from the village republics of ancient India.
The Republic Day history signifies not just a change in political structure but a profound transformation that echoes the heart and soul of the country. The Significance of Republic Day contributes to the rich tapestry of India’s democratic legacy, reminding us of the supreme sacrifices made and the principles that continue to guide the world’s largest democracy. The Indian republic stood not only for welfare but also for human development. The concept of limited monarchy also arose from the Indian soil. There was no such thing as monarchy in ancient India. When we became independent in 1947, we abolished the value of sovereignty cantered in the far-off person of the king of England but not the value of sovereignty itself which our Constitution gave its people. In our country there is equal opportunity for all right from the ancient times. In the similar way, there is always the freedom of speech. The Guru-Shishya Parampara while acknowledging the authority of the Guru admitted the right of dissent of the Shishya. Budha tells his followers “Don’t follow me blindly. Verify the things for yourself”. The verification of knowledge and transparency of facts is Vedanta. Constitution of India is Indian in spirit and Indian in content. It is some total of the best in Indian culture which is many centuries old. Before adoption of the Constitution of India i.e. on November 25, 1949, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and the architect of the Indian Constitution said that we should not be content with the only political democracy. The constituent Assembly led by Dr.B.R. Ambedkar,spent nearly three years in drafting a permanent Contitution to replace this colonial act.By late 1949,their work was complete.He said that the idea behind the Indian Constitution was not only holding elections, it was the social and economic democracy. Our political democracy should be of social type. Political democracy cannot last unless social democracy lies at its base. Social democracy means, a way of life which recognises equality, liberty and fraternity as the principles of life. These three principles should not be treated separately. The constitution of India came into force on 26th January, 1950 and India became a republic. The Indian constitution is constituted of 395 articles and twelve schedules. With that the Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947 were repealed. The soul of the Constitution lies in its Directive Principles. The Directive Principles are directives to the State about its objectives, goals, and the line on which it is to grow. If there are Fundamental Rights, there are Fundamental Duties also for every citizen of the country. In ancient India, the democracy was a free gift of its rulers to the people, while in modern India, the people themselves resolve to constitute India into sovereign, socialist, democratic republic, secular and to secure for all its citizens social, economic and political justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, equality of opportunity and status and to promote the fraternity among the people assuring the dignity, unity and integrity of the nation. One of the Directive Principles of the State Policy enunciated in the Constitution of India is the separation of the judicial powers from the stateside Executive Powers. Judiciary is the shield of innocence and impartial guardian of every private civil right. Judiciary plays a vital role in a federal system. At an apex is the Supreme Court of India. Then there are High Courts at the state level and a subordinate court below them. The power is transferred to the successive governments. We have the largest number of voters in the world. Now the voting age is 18 years of old. The electronic voting has been successively introduced and every voter has an identity card. The multi-party system has contributed significantly to the growth of opposition in India. The Parliament Committee System has ensured the accountability of the Government. The Comptroller and Auditor General Annual Reports keep the Government alert and responsive. In our Constitution there are Group Insurance and Welfare Fund schemes. The laws passed by the Parliament and the state legislatures provide social security and social justice to the people. Our labour laws provide the medical care, maternity protection, provident fund injury compensation and pension for the industrial workers.
The 73rd and 74th Amendments in the Constitution have heralded a new chapter in the process of democratic decentralisation. Education is the fundamental right of every child in India up to the age of 14.Culture which was a preserve of the last six decades ago is the concern of the common man today. The benefits of the Republic have reached more than 94% of our country children and adults through ‘Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan’-a scheme to remove illiteracy and elementary education. For the average Indian Republic means the onward march of the Indian civilization, the cultural continuity of India, its integrity and solidarity. Democracy in India is not mere casting of franchise, holding elections and declaring results. It is a way of life leading to the reorganization of civil order. Now the people in India are anxious to participate in the processes which shape their lives and destinies. Let’s honour the sacrifices of the past and build a bright future for all on this Republic Day.Each of us has a role to play in building a stronger and more inclusive India.
(The writer is Chief Scientist & Head of KVK Reasi SKUAST-J)