January 26, 1950 is the day that a newly independent India gave effect to a constitution that turned the country into a sovereign democratic republic.
This foundational contract was deliberated and debated for nearly three years by a constituent assembly before its adoption.
The world’s longest written constitution embodied the hopes and aspirations of a young country and united all Indians into one nation through commonly affirmed core values and equal rights and obligations.
This year marks the 76th year of that momentous day, known as ‘Republic Day.’
As India celebrates this occasion, it offers a moment to reflect on the nation’s journey as a modern republic underpinned by the preambular tenets of “justice, equality, liberty and fraternity” enshrined in the constitution.
India’s modern history has been one of triumph and tribulation, growth and resilience, pluralism and inclusivity and innovation and collaboration.
Over the past eight decades, an exceptional distance has been traversed in the endeavour to secure peace, progress and prosperity for 1.4 billion Indians.
At the time of its independence from British colonial rule in 1947, extreme poverty and grinding hunger plagued India with a literacy rate of only 12 per cent and a life expectancy of only 32 years across its 340 million people.
Today, India is the fifth-largest economy in the world and has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of multi-dimensional poverty.
From tackling food insecurity to making technological breakthroughs, India’s development trajectory has been remarkable.
The Green Revolution turned India from a food deficient country into one of the world’s largest agricultural producers and exporters.
Today, India’s digital transformation has become synonymous with initiatives like Aadhaar, the largest biometric identification system and the Unified Payments Interface, which has revolutionised financial inclusion.
India’s scientific community has made its mark in space exploration, through projects like the Mars Orbiter Mission and the recent lunar landing by the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.
These achievements are not just milestones for India; they are also relevant for other nations with similar priorities and challenges.
The economic, scientific and technological progress attained by India over the decades has laid a strong foundation for the far-reaching transformation that is currently underway in the country.
The India story directly touches nearly one fifth of humanity.
It also resonates beyond its borders, particularly with developing nations in upholding a vision of equitable and inclusive growth.
Even more striking is that India has flourished within the parameters of an unyielding and robust democratic framework, defying the odds stacked against it at the country’s birth.
In the last national elections in April-June 2024, about 650 million Indians exercise their franchise in the largest elections in recorded history, a resounding expression of the democratic impulse that defines India.
On this Republic Day, as Indians celebrate our own unique journey, we recognise the boundless potential of partnerships with the rest of the world.
Shared interests, common values and mutually beneficial opportunities build durable partnerships like the one we enjoy with Kenya.
We value our unwavering friendship nurtured by our people and supported by both governments.
NAMGYA KHAMPA
High Commissioner of India to Kenya
