India's historic first Republic Day parade in 1950 had a similarity with the 76th R-Day celebrations

India is celebrating its 76th Independence Day on Sunday with a grand parade on Kartavya Path, showcasing tableaux of various states and government schemes under the theme 'Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas'.

A common factor about India's first Republic Day celebration and today is that the Indonesian President is the chief guest for the event. In 1950, Indonesia's first President Sukarno was the chief guest. This year Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is the guest of honor.

However, the maiden Republic Day parade was held at the Irwin Amphitheatre, later renamed the National Stadium. The Irwin Amphitheatre was designed by Robert Torr Russell and was built in 1933 as a gift from the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. It was renamed in 1951, just before hosting the Asian Games.



India was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic on January 26, 1950 at a solemn ceremony in the Government House's Durbar Hall. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first president. The birth of the Indian Republic and the installation of its first president were announced with a 31-gun salute.

Fauji Akhbar (now Sainik Samachar), in its February 4 article 'Birth of a Republic', said, "At the most solemn ceremony, held in the brilliantly lit and high domes of Durbar Hall at Government House, India was declared a Sovereign Democratic Republic exactly at 18 minutes past 10 on the morning of Thursday, January 26, 1950. Six minutes later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as president."

India's last Governor General C Rajagopalachari read out the proclamation of the Republic of "India, that is, Bharat", declaring that the country would be a Union of States comprising the former Governor's provinces, Indian states, and Chief Commissioners' provinces.

"And whereas it has been declared by the said Constitution that India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States comprising within the Union the territories which were hitherto the Governor's provinces, the Indian states and the Chief Commissioners' provinces."

As a part of the celebration, President Prasad drove out of the Government House in a 35-year-old coach bearing the new emblem of Asoka's capital, escorted by the president's bodyguard.

The procession made its way through the Irwin Amphitheatre, greeted by chants of "jai" from the gathered masses.

In his historic speech, President Prasad highlighted the significance of the moment, stating that for the first time in India's long history, the entire vast land was brought together under one Constitution and Union, responsible for the welfare of over 320 million people.

"Today, for the first time in our long and chequered history we find the whole of this vast land from Kashmir in the north to Cape Comorin in the South, from Kathiawad and Kutch in the west to Coconada and Kamrup in the east, brought together under the jurisdiction of one Constitution and one Union, which takes over the responsibility for the welfare of more than 320 million men and women that inhabit it."

"The president drove out of the Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) in state exactly at 2:30 pm in a 35-year-old coach specially renovated for the occasion bearing the new emblem of Asoka's capital and drawn by six sturdy Australian horses, at a slow trot, escorted by the president's bodyguard."

The celebrations saw 15,000 people gathered in the amphitheatre to witnesse a magnificent military parade with 3,000 officers and men of the three Armed Services of India and the police, along with massed bands and native contingents adding color and precision to the solemn occasion.