The Young Chronicle: For Grade 3 January 23rd, 2015 | Page 4

YOUNG CHRONICLE

My India is My Pride!
An Article on the Constitution of India, By Vaibhav Kumar
Every year, on 26th January, we Indians celebrate the Republic Day. This day commemorates the date, 26
January 1950 on which the “Constitution of India” came to existence.

Though India had got its freedom from the hands of the
British in 15th August 1947, there was no permanent
constitution. The laws were based on the modified
colonial Government of India Act 1935 as India was then
under the British. India was then headed by King George
VI, until the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. On
28 August 1947, a drafting committee was appointed to
draft a permanent constitution. This committee was
headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar along with several other
members.

A draft of the constitution was prepared and submitted to the Assembly on 4th November 1947. After many
considerations and some modifications the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of
the document on 24th January 1950. Two days later the constitution came into effect throughout the nation.
The Indian Constitution included 395 Articles and 8 Schedules. These articles and schedules contain
After the withdrawal of British Rule in 1947 it took India 894 days to come up with its own constitution.

For the first time elections were held and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of free India. He
took the oath at the Durban Hall in the Government House, which was followed by the Presidential drive to the
Irwin Stadium. He unrolled the National Flag at the stadium. This transition of India into a sovereign democratic
republic nation is indeed a historical event.

Today, the Indian Constitution is the longest in the world. The national holiday is celebrated with festivities and
patriotism across the whole nation.

January 26, 1950 is one of the most important days in the history of independent India. The people of India
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sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation's freedom, and stood firmly along with political leaders to drive
away the British. At last, on August 15, 1947, a century long freedom struggle came to an end and India
became independent after 200 years of slavery. Although India became independent on August 15, 1947, it
was still under the governance of British Empire.

A 21 Gun Salutes and the unfurling of the Indian National Flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad marked the historic birth
of the Indian Republic on 26th January 1950. Thereafter 26th of January was declared a National Holiday and
was recognised as the Republic Day of India.

The main Republic Day celebration is held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the
President of India. On this day, ceremonious parades take place at the Rajpath, which are performed as a
tribute to India.

Since 1950, India has been hosting a head of state or government of another country as the state guest of
honor for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. During 1950-1954, Republic Day celebrations were organized
at different venues (like Irwin Stadium, Kingsway, Red Fort and Ramlila Grounds).[8] It was only starting 1955,
that the parade was organized at Rajpath, in its present form.