The people of India celebrate the nation’s Republic Day on 26^th January with great enthusiasm and patriotism. People of different states, religion, caste and background come together, unite and celebrate this day. The reason why we celebrate Republic Day is because it’s the day when the country’s constitution came into effect in 1950 at 10:18am. It is the longest constitution all over the world incorporated with 448 Articles in 22 Parts, 12 Schedules and 97 Amendments. It was written by Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popular as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who is also known as the father of Indian Constitution. It took approximately 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to complete the constitution.

Post independence on 15^th August 1947, the country had no permanent constitution. India, which was then a Dominion, followed the laws of the Government of India Act 1935. Until the constitution was formed, the nation was headed by King George VI. In order to make the permanent constitution, a drafting committee was formed on 28^th August 1947, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar along with several other members. On 4^th November 1947, a draft constitution was formed and submitted to the Assembly. Its two copies were hand-written of which, one is in English and the other in Hindi language. On the 24^th of January in 1950, both these documents were signed by 308 members of the assembly and two days later, the Indian Constitution came into existence. Besides, India was also declared as the Purna Swaraj Country and people celebrate it every year as the Purna Swaraj Day.

Several concepts and features of the Indian Constitution were borrowed from other constitutions. The drafting committee took the 5 year plan model from the USSR, the concept of socio-economic rights from Ireland, the idea of liberty, equality and fraternity from the French and from Japan, it borrowed the law based on which the Supreme Court works. Approximately 94 amendments were made again after the Indian Constitution came into effect.

With this, the citizens of India got the power to select their own government. And for the first time ever, elections were held, and people chose Dr. Rajendra Prasad as the first President of India. He took oath as the first Indian President at Durbar Hall in the Government House. After the oath, the Presidential drive followed to the Irwin Stadium and the National Flag was unfurled at the stadium. This transition of India from a British Dominion into the sovereign democratic republic nation is marked as a historical event.

On Republic Day, the entire nation celebrates it with festivities and a grand parade is also held in the country’s capital city, New Delhi. The Indian army, Navy, Air Force and traditional dance groups participate in the parade. While the Indian President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, hoists the national flag, salutes and addresses the nation with a speech. When the national flag is unfurled, the citizens of India sing patriotic songs like Jana Gana Mana and Vandemataram. This way, people pay tribute to all the national leaders and freedom fighters, who fought and lost their lives to make India free.