Though India gained its Independence on August 15th, 1947, it took another three years to sever the last ties to the British Empire. It was on this day Indian constitution came into existence. It was on this very day that the first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, was sworn in as the nation established as a republic.
On 26th January 1950, a huge crowd gathered in Delhi with early morning processions and patriotic songs being crooned everywhere. The 34th and last governor-general of India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, announced the birth of the Republic of India on this day.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad after taking oath as the first President addressed the crowd first in Hindi and then in English. The then-Indonesian president Sukarno attended the Republic Day Parade as the chief guest.
Here is a rare video of the Republic Day celebrations that happened in 1950. We can see the then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru participating in the celebrations as well.
