AMUOBA Kuwait share significance of January 26 – Indian Republic Day
Association felicitates Indian diaspora
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 25: The Executive Committee of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA), Kuwait Chapter on behalf of AMU alumni in Kuwait - would like to join the nation in felicitating the Indian diaspora living in Kuwait and the Embassy of India on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day of India. May the strong bond of brotherhood between all of us continue to remain as pure and pristine as the white snow.
Republic Day is an important day in the history of Indian Independence. The Republic Day commemorates the establishment of the Constitution of India. The adoption of the constitution marked the transition to full independence from Britain as it ended Lord Mountbatten’s role as governor-general of India.
But have you ever wondered: When India got independence from the British on Aug 15, 1947, why did it wait for over two and a half years to become a Republic?
The history behind this is particularly interesting.
At the start of the freedom struggle, most political parties in India were in favour of dominion status, which would retain the monarch of the United Kingdom as the constitutional head of state of India, and preserve political powers for the British Parliament in Indian constitutional affairs.
However, in December 1928, when the Indian National Congress passed a resolution demanding dominion status from the British, the British Empire rejected the idea, refusing to alter India’s ‘colony’ status. This filled the Congress with rage, and such strong feelings fueled the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress on Jan 26, 1929, when the Congress finally voted for Poorna Swaraj.
Even though India was declared a free country in 1947, it is important to understand that it did not attain complete freedom. It was still a constitutional monarchy under King George VI, with Earl Mountbatten as the Governor General, and had no democracy or constitution in place. India’s citizens were denied the freedom of electing their own leaders – who could run the country.
It was only after the Constitution of India came into effect on Jan 26, 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India, did our nation truly became a Republic. So how did that happen?
To start with, under the leadership of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as the chairman, the Drafting Committee for a permanent constitution was appointed. This committee worked vigorously and its final version was ratified by the Constituent Assembly on Nov 26, 1949. But the Assembly still waited till Jan 26, 1950 to formally promulgate it. Why only Jan 26?
Jan 26 was chosen as the Republic Day because it was on this day in 1929 when Declaration of Indian Independence (Poorna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress. On this day, we reaffirm our faith in the Constitution to defend it with our full might.