The significance of Republic Day of India

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(i.e. 26th January)
By R B Singh
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India got independence on August 15th 1947. At that time it had dominion status. Later on January 26Th 1950 it became a Republic.

The constituent assembly was constituted in 1946. It continued its deliberations and completed its task by the end of 1949 when the constitution of India was finally adopted and made effective from January 26th 1950. India's first president Dr Rajendra Prasad, who earlier was president of the constituent assembly, took charge on January 26th, 1950 from the last Governor General, Shri C Rajagopalachari who had become Governor General of India in June, 1948 when Lord Louis Mount Battan, the 1st Governor General of free India.

What was the significance of choosing January 26 for Prmulgation of the Republic on this day?

At the Lahore session of Indian national congress Jawaherlal became its President for the first time. He became congress president four times. He took over from his father Moti Lal Nehru. At that time, Jawaherlal Nehru unfurled the flag on the banks of river Ravi on January 26 1929. It was declared then that from now on the goal of Indian people would be for attaining 'Puran Sawraj'.

From that time onwards January 26th had become a historic day in the freedom struggle of India. it used to be celebrated, every year, as Independence day.

when i was a student at the Sikh national college, Lahore,(1943-45) we used to celebrate January 26 as independence day. there used to be unfurling of new flag by principal of the college, Niranjan Singh, a small talk by him and singing of 'Vande Matram' and 'Jan Gana Man'. college used to be closed that day.

That is why January 26 was chosen to be proper day for promulgation of the Republic of India.

(writer is a thinker and Historian.)

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