Republic Day holds meaning that goes beyond ceremony, spectacle: Bhan

RK News
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26 Jan 2026

Srinagar, Jan 25: Advocate of Supreme Court of India Ashok Bhan on Sunday said that Republic Day, observed every year on January 26, holds a meaning that goes beyond ceremony and spectacle.

Bhan was speaking to students of Law University Gurughram. He said that Republic Day marks the day when in 1950 India adopted its Constitution and formally became a sovereign, democratic republic. While Independence Day celebrates liberation from colonial rule, Republic Day commemorates a deeper moment, Bhan said .

The decision of a diverse people to bind themselves together through a shared constitutional framework of rights, duties and democratic institutions.

Bhan said India attained independence in August 1947, but for over two years continued to function under the colonial Government of India Act, 1935. The Constituent Assembly was tasked with crafting a Constitution rooted in India’s civilizational values and political realities. Under the leadership of Dr. Rajendra Prasad and the intellectual stewardship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, deliberately chosen to honor the Purna Swaraj Declaration of 1930.

"The Indian Constitution guarantees justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to all citizens, including those in Jammu and Kashmir. These are not abstract ideals; they translate into concrete rights. Article 19 safeguards freedom of expression, Article 21 protects life and dignity, and Article 14 ensures equality before law," Bhan said.

He said, for Kashmiris, the Constitution has often served as both shield and forum: a shield against arbitrary power and a forum for contestation, dissent and redress. Landmark Supreme Court judgments, from expanding personal liberty to protecting federalism and secularism, have reinforced the idea that grievances must be resolved through law, not violence.

Republic Day celebrations project India’s diversity as a strength. Tableaux, cultural displays and regional participation reflect a constitutional promise that unity does not erase identity.

Kashmir’s cultural, linguistic and historical distinctiveness fits squarely within this constitutional vision. The Republic’s strength lies in accommodating difference while maintaining shared civic values. Kashmir’s place in India, therefore, is not about assimilation, but constitutional inclusion.

Bhan said Republic Day is also a moment of introspection. Democracy demands more than elections; it requires independent institutions, free media, accountable governance and informed citizens. For Kashmir, where democratic processes have faced disruptions and distrust, recommitting to constitutional morality is essential.

The Indian Constitution guarantees justice, liberty, equality and fraternity to all citizens, including those in Jammu and Kashmir. These are not abstract ideals; they translate into concrete rights. Article 19 safeguards freedom of expression, Article 21 protects life and dignity, and Article 14 ensures equality before law, Bhan said.

For Kashmiris, the Constitution has often served as both shield and forum: a shield against arbitrary power and a forum for contestation, dissent and redress. Landmark Supreme Court judgments, from expanding personal liberty to protecting federalism and secularism, have reinforced the idea that grievances must be resolved through law, not violence.