Independence day and Republic day

26th Jan : Republic Day.

Difference between 

Independence day and Republic Day.

Independence day is the day, India became free from the British rule.

Republic day is the day , Indian  people became the rulers of  independent India.

Independence day is celebrated  on 15th August  ( from 1947).

Republic day is  celebrated  on 26th Jan ( from 1950).

On independence day, India secured its own National  Flag.

On republic day, India declared its own constitution  and officially adopted its National Anthem.

Removed all  the Rajas, Maharajas, Nawab, Sultans  and other hereditary rulers from the power.

Independent country means, free from any external ( foreign ) control.

Republic  country means free from hereditary rulers. 

It is a  rule by the people's representatives.

No hereditary head,( monarch or king  or maharaja or nawab or Sultan )

In a Republic, the rulers  are not selected by hereditary status  but elected by the people's mandate.

UK, even though  Democratic, because  the  Queen is the  Head of the State ( UK), it is not Republic.

Japan, even though Democratic, because the Emperor is the Head of the State (Japan), it is not Republic.

India is Democratic as well Republic. ( there are  no hereditary rulers )

USA is Democratic as well Republic. ( there are  no hereditary rulers )  

India is proud to be DEMOCRATIC as well REPUBLIC

Democratic : Demos means people, democracy means rule of the people.

Republic : Res Publica means public matter,  Public are the owners or rulers. No monarchs ( kings)

India is  an Independent country which means, India is  a Sovereign country . 

( Sovereign means free from any other country's control )

In the preamble ( Introduction ) the  Indian Constitution says.

India is "Sovereign Socialist Secular  Democratic Republic". 

Sovereign = Totally free from any external control of any country.

Socialist = Adopting elements of socialism.

Secular = Neutral in the  religious matters.

Democratic = Demos ( Greek) means People = Democracy means rule of the people.

Republic = No hereditary rulers. Rulers are elected by the people. 

On independence day, India got freedom from British. The British flag was brought down from ramparts of Red Fort. 

and Indian National flag was hoisted by the first PM  Pandit Jawaharal Nehru at the midnight ( 14th midnight).

On Republic Day ,Indians got right to vote and elect their government.

On Republic day , India got its First President of Indian Republic ( Dr.Rajendra Prasad )

On Republic day , Indian Constitution came into force.

On Independence Day the  Prime Minister ( Head of the Government ) hoists the flag on the ramparts of Red Fort.

On Republic Day the  President ( Head of the State or country) hoists  the flag on the ramparts of Red Fort.

 The president is the head of the state, Here state means  country ( India). Not states like Karnataka, TN, Andra , etc,. 

PM is the Head of the Government, President is the Head of the State ( Country-India)).

PM is the real  Chief executive, President is the nominal Chief  Executive. In reality PM is powerful than President .

In simple terms : On Independence day,  the British rule was thrown out.

                            : On Republic day,  the people's rule  was brought in.  

                           

------------------------------------------------------- By M S Vincent : Jan 2014

Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday  

is  on  15th Jan.( 1929)

He was shot dead on 4th Apr.1968 in Memphis , US

He was a great leader of the  Black Americans.

This is his statue sculptured at Washington. DC

 

Stock Photo of Martin Luther King Memorial Statue in Washington DC

Martin Luther King,  

the uncrowned KING of Black Americans.

He was shot dead in 1968 at Memphis, US

In 2008 Dec, I went to Memphis from San Francisco. 

I  changed two planes to reach Memphis.

I went to pay my tribute to the great Black American leader, Martin Luther King Jr.

The Hotel room, where he was shot dead by a White man  is made into 

" The  National Human Right Museum ".

When I entered into the hotel room which is preserved without any change, 

tears rolled on my cheeks.

I felt, I am entering into a temple, a temple of a great human soul. 

Uncrowned King of Black Americans.

He is burried in the minds of millions of  Black Americans and  admirers like me.

I paid tribute to my  great hero by standing silent for 

a few minutes in front of the hotel room. 

His simple living and high thinking of getting equal rights 

to his blood beings reminded me of  Moses of Bible.

Moses redeemed Hebrew slaves from Egypt in 1200 BC ( approximately).

Martin Luther King Jr Day is observed on the third Monday of  every January ,

It is a National holiday in US. 

Saturday, Sunday and Monday continuously three days are holidays. It is a long weekend.

Martin Luther King was a great leader of Black Americans. 

He fought for their rights.

Headed civil right movement,  declared Gandhiji as his Guru, adopted non violence techniques.

He was shot dead in Memphis in the state of  Tennessee  on  
4th April 1968 in the hotel where he stayed.

He is one of my greatly respected leaders of the world. 

when he  was shot dead in 1968, 

I was a High School teacher. In the morning prayer assembly , 

I spoke about him to the students.

I showed his photo to the students and explained his selfless service to the  Black Americans.

At that time, I never thought that one day I could go and see the spot of his assassination.

300 years ago, Black people  were brought from Africa as slaves to US.

\They were not bought by count but by weight.

They were treated  worst than  animals.

They were not  allowed to eat with white people in a common hotel.

They were not allowed to share the toilets used by whites people.

They were not allowed to sit in the front rows of public buses.

They were not given equal wages for equal works in par with white people.

They were not given  voting rights in the general election.

President Abraham Lincoln worked for the emancipation of slaves.

Slavery was abolished in 1865.

Unfortunately,  he was shot dead in 1865 before he could do much,

Black people could not get justice from the Supreme Court. 

In 1954 ,US Supreme Court declared that  the Blacks are not American Citizens .

It was the greatest blow to the Black Americans.

Martin Luther King fought for the civil rights, 
he used  '  non violent civil disobedience'   like Gandhiji.

He was shot dead in 1968.

After a many great struggles,

To-day , the Blacks of US called ' African Americans ' enjoy equal rights in US.

African American Obama had become the President of US.

If Matin Luther  king would have lived , 
he would have become the first  Black American president of US.

===========================================Jan 2013/US/