January 26 marks one of the most important days in our country’s history books. Republic Day is celebrated every year on this day. It was in 1950 when the constitution came into effect and India became a republic.

Every year, this day is celebrated with a grand parade that takes place in New Delhi. 72 years on, people still watch it with great interest, whether physically or on television.

The parade is also attended by a distinguished guest who happens to be a global political figure. However, due to COVID-19,  no chief guest is invited for this year’s Republic Day. Initially, UK prime minister Boris Johnson was to be present but because of the rampant spread of the new coronavirus strain in the country, he cancelled his trip to India.

On this day, what better way to remember the first-ever Republic Day parade and celebrations that took place in 1950. The Indian constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, but it was on January 26, 1950, when it officially came into effect. January 26 was chosen as it marked 20 years since it was decided that the sole aim will be to attain ‘Purna Swaraj’ or complete independence.

India got to witness the festivities of the first-ever Republic Day. The parade took place in Irwin Amphitheatre, that is now known as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. The parade consisted of various kinds of performances as well as an army marching band. Many esteemed personalities in the country attended the event. The chief guest was the Indonesian president, Sukarno, who came with his wife. Overlooking the Purana Qila, the parade started from Irwin Amphitheatre and went on till the Red Fort.

Rajpath has become synonymous with Republic Day celebrations 68 years since, that majestic boulevard that runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan through Vijay Chowk to India Gate. But it was not the venue of the first celebrations in 1950. Beyond India Gate lay, Irwin Amphitheatre (now Major Dhyanchand National Stadium), named after a former Viceroy where 15,000 people had gathered for the big parade, , still nascent compared to the gala it is today.

The new President took a slow, ceremonial ride from Rashtrapati Bhavan with President Sukarno to the amphitheatre in a 35-year-old open state coach bearing the Ashoka Emblem. It was drawn by six Australian horses along the five-mile road to the Amphitheatre, escorted by the President’s bodyguards.

The roads were lined with exuberant crowds with the tricolour in their hands, cheering and chanting “Jai” joined by those peering from neighbouring building roofs and treetops. Dr Prasad greeted them all with his hands folded and a modest but beaming smile. His arrival at the amphitheatre was marked by a resounding 31-gun salute, solemnising the event as a milestone in India’s “chequered history”: Our first Republic Day celebrations as an independent nation. Dr Prasad proceeded to take a round of the amphitheatre, this time in a jeep, while saluting the 3,000 armed forces that had gathered there, after which he hoisted the tricolour, our national flag for the very first time. Another memorable speech by him was in the offing.