Republic Day Speech

Hon’ble Principal, Hon’ble Vice Principal, respected teachers and my dear brothers and sisters. At the outset I wish each and every one of you a happy Republic Day.

65 years back, a salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad heralded the historic birth of the Indian Republic on January 26, 1950; 894 days after our country became a dominion following withdrawal of British Rule. This day is celebrated throughout the country as “Republic Day” as on this day the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act of (1935), as the governing document of India.

India was slave under the British rule for 3 centuries during which Indian people were forced to follow the laws made by British. After long years of struggle by the freedom fighters, finally India became independent on 15^th of August in 1947. After two and half years later Indian Government implemented its own Constitution and declared India as the Democratic Republic. Around two years, eleven months and eighteen days was taken by the Constituent Assembly of India to pass the new Constitution of India which was done on 26^th of January in 1950.

The seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929. The session was held under the presidency of Pt. Jawarhar Lal Nehru. Those present in the meeting took a pledge to mark January 26 as "Independence Day" in order to march towards realizing the dream of complete independence from the British. The Lahore Session paved way to the Civil Disobedience movement. It was decided that January 26, 1930 would be observed as the Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day. Many Indian political parties and Indian revolutionaries from all over the country united to observe the day with honour and pride.

The Indian Constituent Assembly, which was constituted as a result of the negotiations between the Indian leaders and members of the British Cabinet Mission, had its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Objective of the Assembly was to give India a constitution, which would serve a lasting purpose and hence appointed a number of committees to thoroughly research the various aspects of the proposed constitution. The recommendations were discussed, debated and revised many times before the Indian Constitution was finalized and officially adopted three years later on November 26, 1949.

Though India became a free nation on August 15, 1947, it enjoyed the true spirit of Independence on January 26, 1950 when the Constitution of India finally came into force. The Constitution gave the citizens of India the power to govern themselves by choosing their own government.

Today, we have come a long way into future from the first anniversary of Indian Republic Day. Our country has achieved an unprecedented development and a unique place in the world. But still a lot more is left to be done. The true meaning of democracy is yet to be achieved at all the levels. Our leaders, those who fought for Indian freedom, those who sacrificed everything they had in course of Indian freedom, have always been the source of our inspiration for the service to this mother land. Now, the time is ours. We have to make our country more peaceful and to take it to pinnacle of prosperity. And this will be our tribute to our leaders and our service to this country.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.