26 January commemorates the formal adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly, specifically drafted for an independent nation by an eminent polymath scholar Dr B R Ambedkar. The newly established Indian Constitution in 1950 replaced the Government of India Act of 1935. Subsequently, 26 January was declared a national holiday and designated as Republic Day. The Constitution empowered Indian citizens with the authority to elect their own government, thus laying the foundation for democracy.
Dr Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first President of India. Today India is the largest democracy in the world.
Down the memory lane
Let me share my memories of 26 January 1950. The day India became a Republic. At the time, I had just returned to a school in Bhadran, Gujarat after attending primary and middle schools in several other places. I was in the fourth standard, where we had just begun learning English. Our headmaster announced that on this day, India would become a Republic—Prajasattak. For a child of twelve, the significance was hard to grasp, though my family was deeply aware of the independence movement and the legacy of Gandhiji.
The headmaster also told us that every student across India would receive two annas as a present. Friends most of you may not know two annas, as you were born after decimal currency. Two annas were an eighth of a rupee, and in 1950 Bhadran, that could buy half a pound of milk. Four or five rupees would get you a pound of ghee and a tola of gold would cost approximately 110 rupees. For working families, earning two or three rupees a day, two annas was a meaningful sum. Our teacher handed us the coins and encouraged us to celebrate our new status as a Republic.
Most children rushed to the sweet shops, there were four or five of them in Bhadran. With two annas, you could buy a handful of jalebis or other Indian sweets. Some bought balloons, others bought sweets like gulab jamun and penda (local sweets). I chose to give my two annas to my mother, knowing our family’s financial struggles. But she encouraged me to keep the money and use it for celebration however I wished to, as she had already decided to prepare a special dish at home for the occasion.
So, a small group of us in our neighbourhood therefore decided to make a Toran —a garland—to celebrate Republic Day. We gathered Asopalav leaves from the tree near our temple and bought a length of hessian string with my two annas. Together, we crafted the garland and decorated our surroundings, marking the occasion with pride.
The enduring strength of India
Looking back after seventy-seven years, I see so much to celebrate. India has faced several challenges, crises, wars, natural and manmade calamities, tragedies, such as the disastrous earthquake in Kutch, but has always shown resilience. We also observe the anniversary of the Bhuj and Saurashtra earthquake on 26 January, which resulted in over 20,000 fatalities and caused injuries to approximately 150,000 individuals in 2001. Communities came together, support was mobilised quickly, and recovery followed even in the darkest of times. The diaspora collaborated to successfully raise several thousands of pounds.
India’s history is marked by peaceful determination and neighbourliness. Unlike expansionist powers, India has rarely been aggressive towards its neighbours. Today, despite challenges, India stands as a fearless and determined middle power. Our Democracy, with its checks and balances, has endured through difficult times, including the Emergency of 1975. Leaders come and go, but the spirit of the nation remains strong.
Despite differences in culture, language and ideology, there is a unique Indian identity, a desire to be part of a greater whole, like flowers in a garland. Today is a day to remember all those who fought for self-determination over centuries. India’s progress in economics, education, science and defence is remarkable and our democracy, though imperfect, is robust compared to many others.
Recent political events in India, such as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, have reinforced the importance of negotiation and balance in governance for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recognition from the international publications highlights India’s growing stature. Our commitment as a publication to India is also unwavering and the role of sharing news and views is a noble one.
The importance of leadership
Reflecting on the leaders of the independence movement—Gopal Krishna Gokhale, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, and many others, I am reminded of their strength and vision. Gandhiji’s journey from Porbandar, Gujarat to London, his struggles and transformation, and his development of Satyagraha in South Africa, all shaped India’s path to freedom.
In 1950, everything in India was imported, but today, the country is a powerhouse in engineering, technology, and financial services. The spirit of peaceful resistance and resilience endures and I feel both happy and proud to be part of this journey.
India’s values, achievements, and capacity for adaptation are evident at every level—national, international and individual. People remained resilient throughout, even during the Emergency era in the 1970s under Indira Gandhi. The country continues to develop rapidly, with major projects like the new airport and industrial investments, such as in Navi Mumbai.
India has signed three trade deals since mid-last year—with Britain, New Zealand and Oman. According to The Economist's latest issue, India is also working to improve its economic relationship with China, its large neighbour. After border clashes in 2020 halted relations, Prime Minister Modi met with Xi Jinping in China last year, the first such visit in seven years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen as special guests at its Republic Day festivities this year. With ongoing tariff disputes involving the United States, both New Delhi and Brussels are searching for dependable trade partnerships and India appears to be well-positioned. It is set to begin trade negotiations with Canada too. In addition, the country plans to allow foreign companies greater access to its insurance and nuclear power sectors. So, on the 77th Republic Day of India, the outlook for the nation remains highly optimistic!
Join us in celebrating the 77th Republic Day of India and explore our in-depth feature in this week’s edition, pages 14–18.
Jai Bharat
