Celebrating Republic Day
India became independent on August 15, 1947; it was a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general.
The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935. On August 28, 1947, a Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as chairman.
A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1947.
The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of two 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, on January 26, 1950, it came into effect throughout the whole nation.
On that day began Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s first term of office as President of the Indian Union. The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the transitional provisions of the new Constitution.This date is celebrated in India as the Republic Day.