We celebrate our Republic Day today… its an overwhelming feeling watching the R-day parade on TV. India has truly arrived!

For the first time in our history an Indian Prime Minister has missed the R-day celebrations. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is recuperating from a bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

A lot of Indians do not understand the significance of Republic Day (26-JAN). Wasn’t India a FREE country on 15-AUG? Why do we celebrate Republic Day then?

Well the short answer is:

We gained our Independence (from the British) on 15-AUG-1947 and Pt. Nehru became our first Prime Minister.
However, the symbolic head of the Indian state was King George VI

On 26-JAN-1950 the symbolic head of state changed to our first President: Mr. Rajendra Prasad. Also the Indian Constitution came into effect on this day.

Thats enough gyan for today!