In the year 1950, the Republic of India was born, the year that India took its rightful place among the sovereign nations of the world. India, under Gandhiji had struggled through decades of passive resistance, before Britain finally accepted Indian independence.
On August 15th 1947, what should have been one united nation became two separate, independent nations of India and Pakistan.
After independence was won in 1947, India’s Parliament wrote a constitution that changed India’s status as a dominion of the British Empire to a fully independent republic, a federated nation, and a union of states.
This constitution became the law on 26th January 1950, which is celebrated as India’s Republic Day. The new nation faced many challenges. These included the integration of the former princely states into the Indian union, and dealing with movements for greater autonomy in some states. Yet, it could hold up its head with pride as having emerged as the world’s largest democracy- and one that has inspired others to seek freedom through a non-violent revolution.