Republic Day 2024: Understanding the Legacy of India's January 26th Celebration

India will celebrate its 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2024. The date, which marks the coming into force of the Indian Constitution - the document that governs the world's largest democracy. This year, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will attend the main event held in New Delhi. Republic Day is celebrated with great fanfare across India. On this occasion, the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have showcased the country's military might. The celebration includes a parade around the national capital.

Why 26th January was chosen as the Republic Day of India

The Constitution of India came into force on this date. However, the document was prepared three months ago. On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly—the body entrusted with drafting the Indian Constitution—adopted the document.

However, it was decided that the constitution would come into force on January 26, 1950. This is because this date already had significance in Indian history.

It was on January 26, 1930 that Indian freedom fighters called for "purna swaraj" - complete independence from British rule. That moment began what was later regarded as the final phase of the Indian freedom struggle, which ended on August 15, 1947.

Reference to "Complete Swaraj".

In the 1920s, Indian freedom fighters, particularly the Congress faction, were fighting for dominion status under the British Raj. The same decade saw the rise of revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. It also marks the era of Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose.

In 1927, the British Raj appointed the Simon Commission. Composed of seven European officials, the commission was entrusted with political reform in India. The fact that there was no Indian on the commission caused outrage across the country. Chants of 'Simon Go Back' spread across the country.

To counter the Simon Commission, the Congress appointed its own commission which sought to grant India Dominion status in the Empire. The commission constituted by Congress was headed by Motilal Nehru, father of Jawaharlal Nehru.

It was the Nehru Commission report that made the official call for Dominion status. In 1929, Viceroy Edward Irwin made a vague promise that India would be granted dominion status in the future. But Irwin did not keep his word. This proved to be a turning point for the Congress. With the possibility of India being given dominion status over, the Congress, at its Lahore Session in 1929, made a radical call for "Complete Swaraj". The Declaration was officially announced on January 26, 1930.

It would take 17 years for India to finally gain independence. After independence, when it came to the leaders to decide when India would implement its new constitution, the leaders decided on 26 January. So, the date of declaration of 'Complete Swaraj' from the British rule is etched forever in history.