We, the People of India Celebrate Republic Day To Preserve Democracy And The Ganga-Jamuni Culture Of Our Country
By
Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
25 January
2023
Commemorating
Sacrifices, Martyrs, Diversity, Democracy, And Secularism On January 26
Main
Points:
1. Republic
Day, observed on January 26, commemorates the day the country achieved
democracy, in which case its own laws were applied to its own citizens.
2. The blood of
Indians stained every page of the history of independence.
3. The history
of India's independence will never be complete if the sacrifices made by
Muslims during the battle of independence are separated.
4. Everywhere
in the country, this day is commemorated as a public holiday, and government
and educational institutions arrange "Republic Day Celebration"
events.
5. In the
mosques and Madrasahs, prayers are sought for the development and prosperity of
the nation, for interfaith unity, and for the security and guidance of the
roving people.
6. On that day,
our intellectuals underline the need to preserve Indian democracy.
7. The most
important and distinctive feature of the Indian Constitution is that it
guarantees complete freedom to all citizens of the country, irrespective of their
beliefs or ideologies.
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“We The People Of India, Having Solemnly
Resolved To Constitute India Into A Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic
Republic And To Secure To All Its Citizens: Justice, Social, Economic And
Political; Liberty Of Thought, Expression, Belief, Faith And Worship; Equality
Of Status And Of Opportunity; And To Promote Among Them All Fraternity Assuring
The Dignity Of The Individual, And The Unity And Integrity Of The Nation. In Our
Constituent Assembly This Twenty-Sixth Day Of November 1949, Do Hereby Adopt,
Enact And Give To Ourselves This Constitution”
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Two days
unquestionably played a significant role in the history of our beloved India.
The first is on August 15, Independence Day, the day our nation was freed from
British savagery, and the second is on January 26, Republic Day, the day the
nation became democratic, meaning that its own laws were applied to its own
people.
On August
29, 1947, a seven-person committee led by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was constituted
to write the constitution for independent India. It took two years, eleven
months, and eighteen days to draft the existing constitution of the country.
Before it was enacted on November 26, 1949, every article of this new
constitution was openly discussed throughout multiple sessions of the
Constituent Assembly. On January 24, 1950, following a brief meeting, all the
members approved the revised constitution. To commemorate the inaugural
"Republic Day" on January 26, 1950, this new law was enacted. Because
of this constitution, our country is referred to as a democratic one. It is
celebrated with fervour and grandeur, much as 15 August 1947 became the
national and memorial day of the country.
Exactly why
is January 26 observed as a holiday? So let's read through the history books.
This holiday was not given to Indians for free. They had to make significant
sacrifices for this. Millions of lives had to be given up before Indians were
given the chance to rejoice on January 26. In 1601 the British made their first
caravan to India. This computation indicates that the British left India in
1947, 346 years after their arrival.
A lengthy
tale of brutality and cruelty was penned during this time. The blood of Indians
stained every page of the history of independence. The Muslims did not trail
behind anyone; rather, the Muslims were in the foreground of those who dove
into the flames with the spirit of freedom and wrapped their heads in the
British fire for the survival of the beloved country, its culture, and
civilization.
The history
of India's independence will never be complete if the sacrifices made by
Muslims during the battle of independence are separated. The Constitution that
India accepted on January 26, 1950, begins with the following extraordinarily
lovely lines:
“We the people of India, having solemnly
resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic
republic and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and
political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality
of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all fraternity assuring
the dignity of the individual, and the unity and integrity of the nation. In
our constituent assembly this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do hereby
adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution”
Of course,
the most important and distinctive feature of the Indian Constitution is that
it guarantees complete freedom to all citizens of the country, irrespective of
their beliefs or ideologies, enabling them to openly practise their religion,
share their moral convictions, live in peace with their own identities and
traditions, and develop their own language, culture, and civilization. Nobody
has the right to meddle with any religion, culture, language, or civilisation,
to attack its religious places, or to change its personal laws. The
"Indian republic" is a superb structure in this regard. Here, people
from all cultures and ideologies reside.
India is a
democratic country home to admirers of various dialects, religions, castes,
colours, and traditions. Here, the Ganga-Jamuni culture and the atmosphere of
civilisation have persisted for millennia. The unique qualities of this place
are friendship, love, fraternity, solidarity, equality, and brotherhood. Songs
of adoration are performed on January 26 in honour of the cherished nation of
India, its constitution, and the martyrs who gave their lives to ensure the
nation's freedom. Exclusive honours are also given to veterans and the
constitution's authors.
Everywhere
in the country, this day is commemorated as a public holiday, and government
and educational institutions arrange "Republic Day Celebration"
events. In every province, ceremonies are organised at key landmarks, along
with cultural events. Numerous people leave their homes. Islamic Madrasahs,
schools, universities, junctions, and public and private buildings all fly the
national flags. Residential neighbourhoods, cultural institutions, and social
organisations all host large celebrations for their recreational programmes.
In the
mosques and Madrasahs, prayers are sought for the development and prosperity of
the nation, for interfaith unity, and for the security and guidance of the
roving people. The National Anthem and other patriotic songs are sung in a
melodious manner. On this day, speeches are also made about the value of
democracy and secularism.
On this
day, our intellectuals underline the need to preserve Indian democracy. Every
Indian should be completely free to practise any religion or belief they
choose. Each person should have complete freedom to live and eat. Every Indian
should receive government services as a citizen of India, notably justice for
minorities. All Indian religions—Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian—must
coexist in harmony with one another. The safety and advancement of the nation
should be the top priorities for all brothers in the homeland. Additionally, it
is agreed upon that everyone should uphold the national constitution.
But during
the past few years, some brothers with a particular mentality in the country
have disregarded the constitution; targeted minorities encouraged sectarianism,
and played games in the guise of religion and dharma. All of this indicates
that democracy in the nation has suffered greatly. It is obvious that the
objectives of some miscreants are bad given how they have ensnared the national
democracy with their murderous claws and how they are trampling on its
democratic integrity on a daily basis.
In order
for democracy to survive and for the security of the constitution to be
preserved, it is imperative that the government and all the brothers of the
country—both Muslims and non-Muslims—join forces to thwart the plans of the
miscreants. Only then will we be able to rightly say that we live in the
largest democratic country in the world and that we become sincere to celebrate
Republic Day.
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A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com,
Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is a Classical Islamic scholar with a Sufi
background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator.