In India, Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the

Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.[1] The date of 26 January was chosen to honour the declaration of independence of 1930. It is one of the three national holidays in India. While the main parade takes place in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the president, the anniversary is also celebrated with varying degrees of formality in state capitals and other centres. The patriotic fervor of the people on this day brings the whole country together even in her essential diversity. Republic Day is celebrated with more pomp and fervour than Independence Day.

Contents

1 History 2 Celebrations 3 See also 4 References

History
Although India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947, it did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935, and the country was a Dominion, with George VI as head of state and Earl Mountbatten as Governor General. On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr.B. R. Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution. A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two handwritten copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the nation. The Indian National Congress and other parties had been celebrating 26 January as a symbol of Independence, even before India actually became independent. Thus, applying the constitution on 26 January marks and respects this date, the freedom struggle, and the freedom fighters. The amending mechanism was lauded even at the time of introduction by Ambedkar in the following words: "We can therefore safely say that the Indian federation will not suffer from the faults of rigidity or legalism. Its distinguished feature is that it is a flexible federation.

"The three mechanisms of the system derived by the Assembly, contrary to the predictions, have made the constitution flexible at the same time protected the rights of the states. They have worked better than the amending process in any other country where Federalism and the British Parliamentary system jointly formed the basis of the constitution."[cite this quote]

The Independence Day of India is celebrated on 15 August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on 15 August 1947.[1] India achieved independence after a struggle remarkable for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience movement led by the Indian National Congress. The independence coincided with partition of India wherein the British Indian Empire was divided along religious line into two new nationsDominion of India (later Republic of India) and Dominion of Pakistan (later Islamic Republic of Pakistan); the partition was stricken with violent communal riot. The Independence Day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by government as well as private organisations. The flagship event takes place in Delhi where the Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort and delivers a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts. The day is observed all over India with parades and cultural events following flag hoisting ceremonies. Citizens rejoice the day with varied activities such as displaying the national flag, kite playing and enjoying patriotic songs and films. Security concerns over possible militant attacks and sporadic calls for boycotting the celebration by separatist outfits occasionally limit the events at some places.

Contents

1 History o 1.1 Immediate background o 1.2 Partition and independence 2 Celebrations

3 Security and insurgency 4 In popular culture 5 Citations 6 References 7 External links

History
The present-day India was a part of the British Indian Empire. Although the British East India Company started trading in India in the seventeenth century, Company rule in India started effectively from 1757 after the Company's victory in the Battle of Plassey. In 1858, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Government of India Act 1858 led to the British Crown assuming direct control of India. The period after World War I was marked by British reforms but also repressive legislation, by more strident Indian calls for self-rule, and by the beginnings of a non-violent movement of non-cooperation and civil disobidience, of which Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi would become the leader and enduring symbol.[2] During the 1930s, slow legislative reform was enacted by the British; the Indian National Congress won victories in the resulting elections.[3] The next decade was beset with crises: Indian participation in World War II, the Congress's final push for non-cooperation, and an upsurge of Muslim nationalism led by the Muslim League. All were capped by the advent of independence in 1947, but tempered by the bloody partition of the subcontinent into two states: India and Pakistan.

Indian Independence Day

The national flag of India, on the Red fort in Delhi; hoisted flag is a common sight on public and private buildings on this national holiday Official name Independence Day of India Observed by India Type National holiday Date 15 August Flag hoisting, Parades, singing patriotic songs, speech by the Prime Celebrations Minister, kite flying, singing the National Anthem