Why do we celebrate Republic Day?

Origin and History of Republic Day of India

India had to fight really hard to drive the British out of the country. We managed to drive them out on 15th August 1947. Even though we became independent, we did not have a constitution of our own.

A constitution has the basic rules and principles for running a nation. So, India had a government at the time of Independence, but it did not have a constitution.

Republic Day was first celebrated when India’s constitution came into existence- on 26th January, 1950. India became a republic on this day. Like in a democracy, in a republic too, the people elect representatives to run the government. However, this government can’t take away our rights, which are protected by the constitution. That’s the difference between a democracy and a republic.

During the period between 1947 and 1950, without the Constitution, India was headed by King George VI. But on the first Republic Day, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became our first President. It was also on this day in 1950, that the Declaration of Independence from the British rule was made.

Did you think that Republic day is celebrated only in India?

Here are some other nations that celebrate it :

• Pakistan – our neighbor, Pakistan declared itself an Islamic Republic on 23rd March, 1956. They celebrate their Republic Day on this date every year.
• Nepal – became a republic recently, in 2008.
• Italy – Ruled by cruel monarchs for 85 years, Italy finally became a republic on June 2, 1946.
• Turkey – Turkey was ruled by the Ottoman Empire but on October 29, 1923, Turkey became a Republic.
• China – The People’s Republic of China was formed on 1st October 1949. Since then, China celebrates this day as the National Day of the People’s Republic of China.