On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect and transformed India from a British dominion into an independent constitutional republic – a day we annually celebrate as Republic Day. Much like the day we got our independence, the day had its fair share of celebration and pomp. Most public and private buildings in New Delhi were lit up all through the night. There was dancing and festivity, decorated streets, rose petals showered everywhere, people distributing sweets and kites flying high. A lot of the celebration was spontaneous and rich with emotion.  

Indonesian President, Sukarno was invited to New Delhi as the first Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations. Sukarno and the newly elected President of India Rajendra Prasad took a small ceremonial road trip together from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Irwin Amphitheatre – where 15,000 Indians had already assembled to watch the parade. Roads were lined with crowds holding flags and people cheered from treetops and roofs. Prasad hoisted the tri-colour for the first time and delivered a memorable speech on the Constitution. This was followed by a ceremony in which four Param Vir Chakras were awarded to soldiers. The Armed Forces then put on a grand parade for the masses and that ended with the crowd singing the national anthem. Celebrations weren’t restricted to India’s capital and power centres. In small towns of India, people came together to chant songs before sunrise.

President Rajendra Prasad and President Sukarno on the ceremonial ride.

It wasn’t all merrymaking and celebratory everywhere. There were also several reports of conflict. In the city of Calcutta, police officers were attacked with bombs. In Mumbai, people protested the non-inclusion of workers’ rights in the Constitution. In Hyderabad, there was an attempt to assassinate the Nizam. Nonetheless, the overall ambience across India was was one of celebration and achievement. These incidents indicate the tensions which a young, independent India had to negotiate.

Newspaper report from January 1950 highlighting conflicts around the first Republic Day.

However, it cannot be denied that the nature of India’s achievements were massive, by any measure. After decades of political mobilisation, sacrifice, grit and determination, we finally declared ourselves as a republic, announcing to the world we were no longer be ruled by a monarch – foreign or domestic, and sovereignty was firmly placed in the hands of the Indian people.  

Newspaper report from January, 1950.

And the world took notice. The Guardian reported that King George VI congratulated former President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad with the following message,'On the occasion of the inauguration of the Indian Republic I send you my warmest good wishes. May you and the people of India enjoy the full blessings of peace and prosperity in the years to come.'

Prime Minister Clement Atlee of the United Kingdom also sent a similar congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nehru, expressing his happiness in India continuing to remain a member of the Commonwealth nations. But some reports were apprehensive about India’s continuing membership in the Commonwealth.   

An article published in the Manchester Guardian on 26 January 1950 stated that India continues to retain the political legacy of the British by relying on the Government of India Act of 1935. Describing the Indian Constitution, a New York Times article highlighted that it  ‘...abolishes untouchability and includes the most detailed document of fundamental rights of any constitution...'

United States President Harry S. Truman wrote a letter to Dr Prasad congratulating India. He compared India’s political transition to a sovereign, independent republic to America’s political evolution. He hoped that the future of the new Republic “be characterized by peace, prosperity and good fortune.” Interestingly, during the initial stages of the constitution-making process, Nehru had compared India's constitutional moment to the constitutional revolutions of America and France.  

President Truman's letter to President Rajendra Prasad.

Global applause for India’s new status as a constitutional republic was also accompanied by skepticism. Many were apprehensive about India’s survival: India was too diverse and poor to sustain constitutional democracy. As history would have it, India, and its Constitution, did survive – even while its neighbours and political contemporaries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka struggled to remain democratic and preserve their Constitutions. 

Republic Day then, is not just a moment for us to celebrate India's status as a constitutional republic, but to remind ourselves to not take it for granted, and to cherish and protect the values enshrined in our Constitution.