BILL NUMBER: ACR 85 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mendoza
JANUARY 4, 2012
Relative to India Republic Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 85, as introduced, Mendoza. India Republic Day.
This measure would proclaim January 26, 2012, as India Republic
Day in the State of California.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, Republic Day is one of the three national holidays of
India and is celebrated every year on January 26. It was the Lahore
Session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of December 31,
1929, to January 1, 1930, inclusive, that the tricolor flag was
unfurled by the nationalists and a pledge was taken that on January
26 every year, "Republic Day" would be celebrated and that the people
would unceasingly strive for the establishment of a sovereign
democratic republic. The professed pledge was successfully redeemed
on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India framed by the
Constituent Assembly of India came into force, although independence
from British rule was already achieved on August 15, 1947; and
WHEREAS, Although India obtained its independence on August 15,
1947, it did not yet have a permanent constitution. Instead, its laws
were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935,
and the country was a dominion, with George VI as head of state and
Earl Mountbatten as Governor General of India. On August 28, 1947,
the drafting committee was appointed to draft a permanent
constitution, with Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as chairman. While India's
Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British rule, Republic
Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution; and
WHEREAS, A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and
submitted to the Constituent Assembly of India on November 4, 1947.
The assembly met, in sessions open to the public, for 166 days,
spread over a period of two years, 11 months, and 18 days before
adopting the constitution. After many deliberations and some
modifications, the 308 members of the assembly signed two handwritten
copies of the document, one each in Hindi and English, on January
24, 1950. Two days later, the Constitution of India became the law of
all the Indian lands. The Constitution of India was passed on
November 26, 1949, but it came into effect completely only on January
26, 1950. Following elections on January 21, 1950, Rajendra Prasad
was elected as the President of India. The Indian National Congress
and other parties had been celebrating January 26 as a symbol of
independence, even before India actually became independent; and
WHEREAS, Today, Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm
all over the country and especially in New Delhi, the capital of
India where celebrations commence at the presidential level. The
beginning of the occasion is always a solemn reminder of the
sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom
movement and the succeeding wars for the defense of sovereignty of
the country. The president awards medals of bravery to the people
from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and
also the civilians who have distinguished themselves by their
different acts of valor in situations; and
WHEREAS, To mark the importance of this occasion, every year a
grand parade is held in the capital, from the Rajghat, along the
Vijaypath. The different regiments of the army, the navy, and the air
force march past in all their finery and official decorations. Even
the horses of the cavalry are attractively caparisoned to suit the
occasion. The crème of N.C.C. cadets, selected from all over the
country consider it an honor to participate in this event, as do the
school children from various schools in the capital. They spend many
days preparing for the event and no expense is spared to see that
every detail is taken care of, from their practice for the drills,
the essential props, and their uniforms; and
WHEREAS, The parade is followed by a pageant of spectacular
displays from the different states of the country. These moving
exhibits depict scenes of activities of people in those states and
the music and songs of that particular state accompany each display.
Each display brings out the diversity and richness of the culture of
India and the whole show lends a festive air to the occasion. The
parade and the ensuing pageantry is telecast by the national
television and is watched by millions of viewers in every corner of
the country; and
WHEREAS, The patriotic fervor of the people on this day brings the
whole country together even in her essential diversity. Every part
of the country is represented on this occasion, which makes Republic
Day the most popular of all the national holidays of India; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims January 26,
2012, as India Republic Day in the State of California; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.