Why do we celebrate Republic Day? Annie Mascarene's 1949 speech explains significance of Republic Day

As we gear up to celebrate India's Republic Day on January 26th, the past beckons. It makes sense to look back and learn something new about the era that we know so little about. Not merely for the purpose of sending WhatsApp greetings or messages, the significance of Republic Day is definitely worth contemplating upon.

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Significance of Republic Day

Anyone familiar with India's history or law knows the significance of Republic Day. For a large section of the society, Republic Day is just another gazetted holiday, a break from a hectic work schedule and one of those rare days that can be enjoyed while watching every state showcase its unique cultural dimensions as part of the Republic Day parade.

But so much of history, brimming with electrifying sentiment and passion for the nation's glorious breaking away from the colonial mould, is still unknown to many Indians.

Constituent Assembly Debates

An exploration of the Constituent Assembly debates is a goldmine of information that every Indian should study to understand the nation's real metamorphosis. 

When you read through the debates of these extraordinary Indians, men and women who were not just intellectual giants but they came with a passion so rare, a determination and dedication so sincere, every word from these debates is worth studying!

Deeply inspiring and thought-provoking is Annie Mascarne's speech to the Constituent Assembly on 18th November 1949. While her speech is a gentle reminder to Indians about the significance of India's Constitution, she is also candid about the 'imperfections ascribed to our Constitution' by others.

A persuasive counter argument that Annie urges every Indian to consider is reflected in her address to the Constituent Assembly. 

She asks, "France started its Constitution with the storming of the Bastille, and it had to wait 100 years before it could frame its Constitution; meanwhile it swung between dictatorship and republicanism. Is there any other nation in the world today which deliberately elected a Constituent Assembly which sat for three years continuously and framed its Constitution?" 

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Why is India called a Republic? 

Representing the then state of Travancore, here is Annie Mascarane's speech before the Constituent Assembly of India. This is available for reference in the Constituent Assembly debates, Vol X - 6th to 17th October 1949.

"We are, Sir, on the eve of a historic occasion, when this ancient sub-continent of ours, which had been a laboratory of political experiments of nations in the world, which had been a caravanserai, where nation after nation and sultan after sultan came and went their way, is going to solemnly declare by the sovereign will of its people, a Sovereign Democratic Republic, to secure justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for all its citizens.

Never in the history of the world, Sir, has a nation of such magnitude and population, with a history and tradition of non-violence, culture and sacrifice, fought and defeated the mightiest Empire in the world, with a galaxy of distinguished leadership that stands before time like beacon lights, has declared its sovereign will to lay down a democratic constitution.

When passion is high after the end of two world wars in history, when reason and common sense are at a discount and principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are resounding such intoxicating music in our ears, it is at this time, Sir, that we, the greatest nation in the world, have decided to frame our Constitution....

This is the first instance when heterogeneous interests in a continent state like India have united themselves to form a homogeneous unit in order to lay rules and regulations that should lead us or guide in future to live a national life."

More delightful of all is the fact that the Constituent Assembly embraced an inclusive approach. Wondering how? Giving equal space for Indian women to not only voice their views on highly technical aspects of drafting the Constitution of India but also encouraging them to disagree and debate on all issues related to India's emergence as a sovereign republic. 

Surely, members like Annie Mascarene would have been pleased to know that their words, a precious legacy and a part of India's constitutional history, is leading us back to them and to take inspiration from them so many decades later.