Independence Day and Republic Day

In your book, Our Wondrous World (Chapter 5), it is 26 January, Republic Day. The children come to school early and stand in lines around the flagpole. The head teacher pulls the rope, the tricolour flag unfurls to the sound of drums and claps, and everyone sings the National Anthem together, with pride.

On television, the class watches the Republic Day parade in New Delhi: fighter jets flying in the sky, the tableaux of the states, cultural programmes, and the Army, the Navy and the Air Force marching past.

India has two special national days. India became independent, or free, on 15 August 1947. Before that, Indians were not free to take their own decisions, and many brave people struggled hard to make India free. We celebrate Independence Day on 15 August every year.

Priya asks her teacher: if our country became free, can everyone now do whatever they want? The teacher says no. A country needs rules to run smoothly and keep everyone safe and happy. So India made a special book of rules for the country, called the Constitution. On 26 January 1950, India began to follow the Constitution. That is why we celebrate 26 January every year as Republic Day.