BILL NUMBER: ACR 85 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 13, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mendoza
JANUARY 4, 2012
Relative to India Republic Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 85, as amended, Mendoza. India Republic Day.
This measure would proclaim January 26, 2012, as India Republic
Day in the State of California , and would
urge all Californians to join i n celebrating India
Republic Day .
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; lands; 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 and
WHEREAS, Republic Day serves to remind us that the foundation of
any nation and our state is in its people, in their spirit and
courage in the face of adversity, and in their willingness to
sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and liberty; and
WHEREAS, Republic Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the many
achievements of the large Asian Indian community here in California,
which is home to the largest population of Asian Indians in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Achievements by Asian Indians in America and California
include contributions to all facets of our community, including our
culture and society through their achievements in food, medicine,
business, and technology; and
WHEREAS, Asian Indians have one of the highest educational levels
of all ethnic groups in the United States, with almost 71 percent
holding a bachelor's degree or higher, including 40 percent of whom
have a master's, doctorate, or other professional degree; and
WHEREAS, One-third of the engineers in Silicon Valley are of
Indian descent, while 7 percent of Silicon Valley hi-tech firms are
led by Indian CEOs; 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 urges all Californians to join in celebrating
India Republic Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.