By Leon Bent-
On 26th January 1950, India was declared a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and the Constitution assured the citizens of India justice, equality, liberty and fraternity. It is the day when monarchy was bulldozed from the country.
Republic has its roots from ‘Res respublica’, a Latin word standing for ‘A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch’. This makes India the largest sovereign nation in the world, with respect to its population. A Republican system is where the people become the true rules of the state, by electing representatives to take control of the country through direct voting, a system that India has in place; from Panchayat to Parliament.
India won its independence from the British after nearly 2 centuries of subjugation on August 15, 1947. But the victory, although highly significant in its symbolism, would have been baseless had we kept on following the archaic British constitution to rule our state.
Following a series of meetings between political leaders, a drafting committee was set up under the leadership of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who later went to be known as the chief architect of the Constitution. The first draft of the Constitution had been submitted to the Assembly in November 1947, but a few amendments and two years later, on January 26, 1950, the process was completed when the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution.
The Constitution that declared the country a ‘Republic’, allows citizens to live in their own way, having a dignified life and rule ourselves, proclaiming us a democracy.
The Constitution was originally handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, with his beautiful skills as a calligrapher. Each page of the Indian Constitution was decorated by artists from Shantiniketan. A total number of 283 members of the constituent assembly signed the Constitution. The Indian Constitution is the longest in the world because of its handwritten uniqueness, with 25 parts containing 448 articles and 12 schedules. On the day of the signing of the Constitution, the weather deemed it fit to rain heavily outside Parliament, something which was taken as a good omen by the assembly members. The original copies of the Constitution are still preserved in helium-filled cases, in the Library of Parliament House.
The Delhi Republic Day parade is the largest and most important of the parades marking Republic Day celebrations in India. The spectacle takes place every year on 26 January, at Rajpath, New Delhi. It is the main attraction of India’s Republic Day celebrations, which last for 3 days. The pageant showcases India’s defence capability and its cultural and social heritage.
Here are 4 ways to show your patriotism this Republic Day with a funky twist.
1. Accessorize the Indian Way!
If you want to keep it simple and don’t want to go overboard with tri-colour clothing, you can go for creative accessories. Many online portals are offering handbags in shades of the flag.
2. Fly the Flag High
The Indian flag is the superstar of any national event, so make it a part of your home this year to show off your zealous spirit. The shopping sites are overflowing with innovative home décor ideas for Republic Day. One such interesting furnishing item is the tri-colour cushion cover available in varied vibrant designs. Adorn your room with these or gift them to a loved one, it will just add to the merriment related with the day. You can also buy patriotic coffee mugs as Republic Day gifts from these portals.
3. Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeves
It’s Republic Day and it’s time to celebrate! So flaunt the tri-colour by donning the hues in your attire. Dress up the patriotic way with a combination of Indian flag colours to stride with pride. Girls can opt for a tri-colour kurti and boys can go for the trendy tees sporting our revered leaders, like Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh. Traditional or western, just let the message be clear.
4. Decorate All The Way!
If you are decorating your home, why should your office and car stay behind? Soak up the entire world in the joyous feeling by bedecking the Indian flag stand on your workstation or your daily ride. You can also present it to your colleagues or children.
And, this final flourish! The 70th Republic Day is here. And for many youth in India, it is a day to take pride in the Constitution and the rights it confers, and to feel patriotic as they watch the spectacle of the country’s military might and cultural prowess at Rajpath.
The last word! Republic Day is the time to go all out and colour the town saffron, white and green. It’s the day to cherish the legacy of our forefathers. So celebrate the day with a bang and let the world know how much we love our homeland.