Greetings on Republic Day.

Facts on 1st Republic Day.


• India obtained its Independence from 300 years of British Rule in 1947 on August 15th but the constitution of India was formalised and came into effect on 26th January 1950.
• After independence, the country India did not have a constitution to guide us.
• Indian National Congress was the sole formal voice of Indians, but then it was not an elected body.
• During the period between 1947 and 1950 King George VI was the head of the country.
• C. Rajagopalachari was the Governor General of India during this period.
• It was only after January 26th, 1950 that the first president of India was elected, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
* Upon India's independence on August 15, 1947, the new Congress-led government invited Dr B R Ambedkar to serve as the nation's first law minister, which he accepted. On August 29, Ambedkar was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, charged by the Assembly to write free India's new Constitution.
* After proclaiming India a Republic, the retiring Governor-General, C Rajgopalachari, invites the first elected President of the Republic, Dr Rajendra Prasad (left), to occupy the Presidential seat in the Durbar Hall at Government House, in this picture extracted from The Times of India dated January 28, 1950. (Times Archives, Delhi).

Greetings to all fellow Indians on 62nd Republic Day today.