Today, if it is asked in a KBC-like TV program where was the first Republic Day parade held in the country’s capital, the first answer of the people who press the bell will be Rajpath and the audience will also think that it is such an easy question!
But the reality is completely different from this.
The first Republic Day parade in Delhi on 26 January 1950, was not held on Rajpath but at Irwin Stadium (today’s National Stadium).
Due to the absence of a boundary wall around the Irwin Stadium of that time, the Purana Qila (Old Fort) was visible behind it.
Preparations for Republic Day in Delhi
Photos: Google’s Salute on Republic Day
Between 1950-1954, the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi were held sometimes at Irwin Stadium, Kingsway Camp, Red Fort, and sometimes at Ramlila Maidan.
The Republic Day parade started for the first time on Rajpath in the year 1955.
This trend continues to date. Now this parade covering a distance of eight kilometers starts from Raisina Hill passes through Rajpath, India Gate, and ends at Red Fort.
From the freedom movement to the implementation of the Constitution in the country, the date of 26 January has its importance.
Rajendra Prasad hoisted the tricolor in Gandhi Maidan
On this day, an important resolution was passed in the Lahore session of the Congress under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru, which said that if the British government did not give India the status of a colony (Dominion Status) by 26 January 1930, then India would be declared completely independent.
If the British government does not pay attention to this, the Congress started an active movement by declaring the determination of complete independence of India at midnight on 31 December 1929.
The tricolor was hoisted for the first time in the Lahore session of the Congress. Not only this, it was also decided to celebrate Purna Swaraj Day every year on 26 January.
In this way, 26 January had unofficially become the country’s Independence Day even before independence.
This was the reason that Congress continued to celebrate 26 January as Independence Day from that day till independence in 1947.
In the year 1950, the country’s first Indian Governor General Chakravarti Rajagopalachari declared India a sovereign democratic republic at 10:18 am on Thursday, 26 January.
Then six minutes later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the first President of the Republic of India.
After taking oath in the then Government House and today’s Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Darbar Hall, Rajendra Babu was given a gun salute at 10:30 am.
This tradition of gun salute has been maintained since the 70s. And even today this tradition is maintained.
The President’s convoy left from Government House towards Irwin Stadium at 2:30 pm.
This caravan reached the saluting platform at around 3:45 pm after moving around Connaught Place and its nearby areas. Then Rajendra Babu boarded a 35-year-old but specially decorated carriage, which was pulled by six Australian horses.
15 thousand people had reached to see the main Republic Day parade held at Irwin Stadium.
The first President of the modern Republic hoisted the tricolor at Irwin Stadium and took the salute of the parade.
All three forces of the armed forces had participated in the parade held at that time. Apart from the Navy, Infantry, Cavalry Regiment, and Services Regiment, seven bands of the Army also participated in this parade.
This historical tradition continues even today.
The chief guest of the first Republic Day was President Sukarno of Indonesia.
Not only this, this day was declared a national holiday for the first time. Later, for more participation of the countrymen, the Republic Day celebrations started being held on Kingsway (today’s Rajpath) in the year 1951.
According to old issues of the magazine “Sainik Samachar”, in the Republic Day celebrations of 1951, four brave men were awarded the highest decoration Param Vir Chakra for their indomitable courage for the first time.
From that year onwards, the celebrations began in the morning and the parade ended at Gol Dakkhana.
The Beating Retreat ceremony began in 1952. One of its celebrations was held in the ground in front of the Regal Cinema and the other in the Red Fort. The army band played the tune of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite song ‘Abide With Me’ for the first time and since then the same tune has been played every year.
In 1953, folk dance and fireworks were included in the Republic Day parade for the first time. Then fireworks were also held at Ramlila Ground on this occasion.
The same year, citizens of the tribal society of Tripura, Assam, and NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) participated in the Republic Day celebrations.
In 1955, the tradition of Mushaira on Republic Day began in the Diwan-e-Aam of Red Fort, Delhi. Then the Mushaira used to start at 10 pm.
The kavi sammelan of 14 languages held in the following year was broadcast on radio for the first time.
In 1956, for the first time, five decorated elephants took part in the Republic Day parade.
Keeping in mind the possibility of the elephants being frightened by the noise of the planes, the elephants were brought in between the passage of the army contingents and the arrival of the group of folk dancers. At that time, shehnai players were sitting on the elephants.
From the year 1958, electric lighting started on the government buildings of the capital.
In the year 1959, for the first time, flowers were showered on the audience from Air Force helicopters during the Republic Day celebrations.
In the year 1960, for the first time, brave children were brought to the parade sitting on the howdah of an elephant, while the practice of honoring brave children had already begun.
That year, about 20 lakh people watched the Republic Day celebrations in the capital, out of which five lakh people had gathered on the Rajpath itself.
The sale of tickets for watching the Republic Day parade and the Beating Retreat ceremony started in the year 1962.
By that year, the length of the Republic Day parade had become six miles, that is, when the first contingent of the parade reached the Red Fort, the last contingent was at the India Gate. Due to the Chinese attack on India that year, the size of the parade was reduced the next year.
In the year 1973, during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, for the first time, tribute was paid to the soldiers at the Amar Jawan Jyoti located at India Gate.
