26th January

26th January: What does 26th January mean to us? A holiday...if it comes close to a weekend then probably a long weekend holiday? No, its much more than that.India got freedom from the British Rule on 15th August 1947. As a sovereign country, our democracy needed a Constitution (A constitution  is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed).Let us understand the meaning of 'Republic': It means "A sovereign state or country which is organised with a form of government in which power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body and government leaders exercise power according to the rule of law." That's why India is called 'Republic of India'Preamble (an introduction) to the Constitution of IndiaThese are the opening words of the preamble of the Indian Constitution:“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:JUSTICE, social, economic and political;LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them allFRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION"  The Constitution was passed on 26 November 1949 in the Constituent Assembly. It was adopted on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, when the country became a republic in true sense. 26 January was selected, because it was this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence was passed.(Source: Wikipedia)But how many of us truly beleive in this? How many of us understand our Rights and Duties toward each other?Do we truly get justice, liberty, equality and fraternity? We need to think about it seriuosly and start raising our voice against injustice, denial, inequality and intolerence. We need to do whatever each one of us can do... even though a little would make a lot of difference. Elected government is the representative of people... of you. If they don't give you your Fundamental Rights, fight for them because your constitution has given you those Rights... your own constitution. Start thinking about Republic Day beyond it being a mere holiday!