India's Republic Day, Best WishesShare
Today at 12:36am
Although India's democracy is secular by constitution, in reality it has been a pluralistic democracy. The idea of democracy is deep rooted in our psyche and it runs in our veins. It has been tested a few times, but the democracy has stood like a rock. The Republic Day of India marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on January 26, 1950.
Thanks to my parents for planning my birth on such an occassion. The day coincided with two more events - it was Prophet Muhammad's birthday per the lunar calendar and my Dad was elected Mayor of the Town of Yelahanka on that day. I was born 10lb 4oz in Victoria Hospital, Bangalore.
We are proud of our heritage - a multi-faith, multi-cultural, multi-regional and multi-linguistic society, where we have come to accept and respect every which way people have lived their lives.
For over 5000 years, India has been a beacon of pluralism - it has embraced Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i and Zoroastrianism to include in the array of the indigenous religions; Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
India led the way to the freedom movement, since 1947 just about every country in the world has been liberated from colonialism. Indian democracy is a shining example to the world, where the people have peacefully transferred the powers.
Indians are inherently secular and economically capitalistic. They believe in "live-and-let-live" life style, which is the essence of capitalism.Through the years we have expressed the highest degree of maturity on handling extreme situations; the more divergent opinions we hear, the larger our heart grows, the bigger our embrace would be and we can cushion more differences. Let’s continue to honor the concept that there is always another side to the story, as finding the truth is our own responsibility.I am proud of my heritage and am proud to be an Indian-American.
Mike Ghouse
Here is more information about our Republic:
The Republic Day of India marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on January 26, 1950.
Although India obtained its independence on August 15, 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 August 29, 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as chairman.
A draft Constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on November 4, 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 hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on January 24, 1950. Two days later, the Constitution of India became the law of all the Indian lands. The Constitution of India came into effect only on January 26, 1950, 10.18 AM IST. Following elections on January 21, 1950, Rajendra Prasad was elected as the president of India. The Indian National Congress and other parties had been celebrating January 26th as a symbol of Independence, even before India actually became independent. Thus, signing the constitution on January 26, to mark and respect January 26 and the freedom struggle and the freedom fighters.
Granville Austin has described the Indian Constitution drafted by Ambedkar as 'first and foremost a social document.' ... 'The majority of India's constitutional provisions are either directly arrived at furthering the aim of social revolution or attempt to foster this revolution by establishing conditions necessary for its achievement.'
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"
What Sir Anthony Eden, the Prime Minister of Britain (April 1955 to January 1957), said at the time of the emergence of Indian Republic is relevant in this context. He said, ‘Of all the experiments in government, which have been attempted since the beginning of time, I believe that the Indian venture into parliamentary government is the most exciting. A vast subcontinent is attempting to apply to its tens and thousands of millions a system of free democracy... It is a brave thing to try to do so. The Indian venture is not a pale imitation of our practice at home, but a magnified and multiplied reproduction on a scale we have never dreamt of. If it succeeds, its influence on Asia is incalculable for good. Whatever the outcome we must honour those who attempt it. Even more meaningful was the opinion expressed by an American Constitutional authority, Granville Austin, who wrote that what the Indian Constituent Assembly began was ‘perhaps the greatest political venture since that originated in Philadelphia in 1787.’
"During recent years, it has become fashionable among some citizens to disparage the founders and their document. These individuals disappointed by the developments in the country since 1950, have called for changing the constitution explaining that it has not 'worked'. Such thinking, in my view, is misguided. Constitutions do not 'work', they are inert, dependent upon being 'worked' by citizens and elected and appointed leaders"
It is one of the three national holidays in India
Courtesy of wiki.
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7399792002477900458
OUR NATIONAL SONGS
More at
www.http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/
Vande Mataram -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFKJirsFJmA&NR=1
Saray Jahan say Accha -
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=s09MoVYMYhw&feature=related
Jahan Daal Daal Pay -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM--V8roElM&feature=related
Hum Laye Hein Toofan say - http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Dgax5HQoJ6k&feature=related
Mere Desh Ki Dharti - http://www.youtube.com/watchv=mxpNCgT6AzI&feature=PlayList&p=11804D049D6DA550&index=0
Apni Azaadi ko hargiz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93NLol3gXm8
A desh hai veer jawanon ka -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnPJY_o7tw&feature=related
Mike Ghouse
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