Parades showcasing vibrant tableaux are a salient feature of India’s Republic Day celebrations. The government has picked out 22 tableaux proposals for this year’s Republic Day parade. The categories include six from central government departments and ministries and 16 from states and Union Territories (UTs). The contenders were numerous – 32 states and UTs and 24 ministries sent in their tableau proposals.
The Selection Process
The Ministry of Defence undertakes the selection process for the Republic Day parade tableaux. The formation of an expert committee is initiated by the Ministry, composed of distinguished individuals from diverse artistic disciplines. These eminent faces belong to the fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, and more.
The committee’s job is to sift through the mass of received tableaux proposals from different states and organizations and shortlist the most likely candidates. All states are given representation on a rotational basis to ensure fair representation. Notably, writing or using logos on the tableaux isn’t permitted. The only exception is the name of states or Union Territories presenting them on the day of the parade. More interestingly, there is also a prescribed position to write the names of the states — Hindi at the front, English on the back, and the regional language on the sides.
A Peek into the Past: The Significance of Republic Day
The 15th of August, 1947 is remembered as the day when India shed its shackles and emerged as a free nation. This day is celebrated annually as Independence Day. However, Republic Day celebrates a slightly different milestone: the day when India got a written Constitution and formally became an independent republic.
The term ‘Republic’ signifies that India has an elected head referred to as the President. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949 and officially came into effect on 26th January, 1950. Hence, 26th November is observed as Constitution Day.
The selection of the 26th of January for Republic Day wasn’t arbitrary. This was the day in 1930 when the Indian National Congress (INC) declared ‘Purna Swaraj’, or complete independence, from British rule. This resolution was passed during INC’s Lahore session in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru.
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| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| India Declares Independence | 1947 | Emergence of a free nation |
| Adoption of Constitution | 1949 | India gets the written constitution |
| Republic Day | 1950 | Effective date of Indian Constitution |
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Republic Day 2020 Celebrations: Chief Guest
This year’s Republic Day promises to be a grand affair. The chief guest honor for the 2020 Republic Day parade has been bestowed upon the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro.
