Indian community celebrates 68th Republic Day |27 January 2017

Many people throughout India celebrate the nation’s Republic Day, which is celebrated on January 26 each year. It is a day to remember when India’s constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, completing the country’s transition toward becoming an independent republic.

Such event is commemorated around the world and even in Seychelles, yesterday morning the Indian community of Seychelles came together at the India House, Au Cap to celebrate this milestone.

The ceremony started with the traditional flag raising and the singing of India’s national anthem.

The acting high commissioner of India Anindya Banerjee proceeded with reading extracts from the message of the 13th President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee.

“When India attained freedom on August 15, 1947, we did not have an instrument of governance of our own. We waited till January 26, 1950 when the Indian people gave to themselves a Constitution to secure for all its citizens, justice, liberty, equality, gender and economic equity. We promised to promote fraternity, dignity of the individual, and unity and integrity of the nation. On that day, we became the largest democracy of the world,” he said.

He added that today India is one of the fastest growing economies.

“We are today the fastest growing among the major economies of the world. We are the second largest reservoir of scientific and technical manpower, the third largest army, the sixth member of the nuclear club, the sixth member in the race for space, and the tenth largest industrial power,” he said.

India became independent of the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. India did not have a permanent constitution at this time. The drafting committee presented the constitution's first draft to the national assembly on November 4, 1947. The national assembly signed the final English and Hindi language versions of the constitution on January 24, 1950.

India's constitution came into effect on Republic Day, January 26, 1950. This date was chosen as it was the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day, which was held on January 26, 1930.