Seventy-Six Years of the Republic

Republic Day reframes patriotism around participation and constitutional respect.

- Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee

India's 76th Republic Day arrives as a moment of assessment with a long, shared journey that began when the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950.

That document turned a newly independent country into a republic and offered a common language for governance, rights, and citizenship.

Every Republic Day reopens that dialogue between the nation and its people.

The Constitution emerged from intense debate and hard-earned consensus under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. It promised liberty, equality, and fraternity within a democratic framework that sought to include an immensely diverse population.

India's transition from colonial rule to self-government demanded imagination as much as courage. Republic Day marks that leap and the collective decision to trust law and democratic process over force.

Public celebrations mirror this idea of shared ownership.

The parade along Kartavya Path tells a story of pluralism, where regions, languages, and traditions stand side by side.

Each tableau offers a claim on the republic, reinforcing the belief that India draws strength from difference held together by constitutional values.

Over seven decades, democracy in India has taken many forms. One-party dominance gave way to coalition governments, regional voices gained national presence, and voter participation deepened.

These shifts reflected changing public expectations rather than institutional collapse.