A special set of 4 stamps were issued on 26th January 1950, to commemorate the inauguration of the Republic of India. The designs of the stamps are simple and symbolic. The first 2 annas stamp is intended for inland postage, depicts children watching procession of cavaliers carrying flags and blowing trumpets which herald India’s attainment of full Nationhood. The second 3½ annas stamp is intended for foreign Sea Mail, depicts a quill and an ink pot against the back ground of Mahatma Gandhiji’s favourite hymn “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.”, symbolize Nation’s Education. The third 4 annas stamp intended for registration, depicts an ear of grain and a plough, symbolize Bharat as an Agricultural Country. The last 12 annas stamp intended for foreign Air Mail depicts Charkha, symbolize of Bharat Cottage Industry.
Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.
The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by British Regime.
India achieved independence from British raj on 15 August 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo 6 c 30), an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth (later Commonwealth of Nations).India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general. The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution. A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947.The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the whole nation.
The main Republic Day celebration is held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Raj path before the President of India. On this day, ceremonious parades take place at the Raj path, which are performed as a tribute to India; its unity in diversity and rich cultural heritage.
KBC Trivia: Lines from which of these works were engraved on a stamp issued on 26 January 1950 to mark the occasion of India's first Republic Day?
Mahatma Gandhi popularized the bhajan "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram," which Vishnu Digambar Paluskar adapted to music.
Some More Facts:
- India has always hosted a guest right from the very first Republic Day parade in 1950. The very first guest at the Republic Day parade was Sukarno, the then president of Indonesia in 1950. The guests were always chosen based on strategic and economic interests of the country. In 1965, Rana Abdul Hamid, who was the Minister of Agriculture of Pakistan was the guest of honour. Within 6 months, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar - an operation to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir and led to the 1965 War. This was the last time anybody from Pakistan was invited. To continue with its push on the ‘Look East’ Policy, India invited the 10 heads of states of the ASEAN countries in 2018 - the most number of guests ever invited. The mantra now seems to be East or West, not inviting Pakistan is for the best.
- The 1963 Republic Day was a sombre affair as the wounds from the China war were still fresh. There were serious deliberations within the upper echelons of the executive to go ahead with the parade that year. A majority of the armed forces were deployed at the border to guard against further Chinese encroachments. The 1963 parade saw the awarding of 3 Param Vir Chakra medals to Major Dhan Singh Thapa, the widow of Subedar Joginder Singh and the widow of Major Shaitan Singh. The armed forces parade was on a much smaller scale than before and it was followed by a citizens march where more than 100,000 people participated.
- Another feature of the Republic Day is the awarding of the Padma awards. The first time the awards were instituted was in 1954 and was actually called Padma Vibhushan Pahela Varg (Class 1), Dusra Varg (Class 2) and Tisra Varg (Class 3). It was only a year later that the names Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri came into picture. When the Janata Government under Morarji Desai came to power, they suspended the Bharat Ratna as well as the Padma awards deeming them “worthless and politicised”. But Morarji Desai had no problem in accepting the Bharat Ratna award in 1991. The Padma Awards went from 'worthless and politicised' to 'well, if you insist' in Morarji Desai's book.
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