India’s Republic Day this week has never enjoyed the PR of its Independence Day. January 26 is a kind of dry winter day in the capital Delhi. Despite the majesty of military parades and speeches full of pathos to the nation, and even guests of honor from abroad (this year Egyptian President al-Sisi honored the Indian people with his presence). And yet, outside of India, Republic Day fails to direct the media spotlight on it.
India has to celebrate its Independence Day, which falls on August 15, close to Pakistan’s Independence Day, which falls the day before. The proximity immediately invites the comparison between the countries: who was more successful? Who is stronger? And who is more nuclear? But unlike the day the British occupier dictated to her at the time of his departure, her Republic Day, India chose for herself.
Indian Army soldiers march in New Delhi during the Indian Republic Day celebrations (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Israel and India are mentioned quite often in the same breath, as a rare case of democratic countries in the post-colonial world of the end of World War II. From time to time, the pleasant rhyme to Israeli and Indian ears is played that between Bangladesh and Marrakesh (in Morocco) there are only two democracies. But India took its democracy one step further than Israel, and on January 26, 1950, it established a constitution, according to which the vast country has been operating ever since.
This is how the Indian constitution shaped the world’s largest democracy — Time News
Categories: Politics
The Fourth Estate 
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