The first three years of India’s republic

Brut India

A spirited speech in 1950, Prime Minister Nehru taking stock of the parade in 1951, and the President’s salute in 1952… This is how India celebrated its first three Republic Days.

Transcript

00:00The day India became a republic within the Commonwealth was certainly historic.

00:05Beneath portraits of Gandhi and Mr. Nehru, the High Commissioner, Mr. Krishna Menon, read the proclamation at India House.

00:12India, that is Bharat, shall be a sovereign democratic republic.

00:18The High Commissioner then made and signed a solemn declaration of his allegiance to the new republic and addressed the gathering.

00:24Two and a half years ago, the British Empire passed power into the hands of the Indian people.

00:32We became an independent country and today, by the proclamation of our constitution,

00:38made by our own people in the exercise of the wisdom and the determination and the collective responsibility,

00:44we have set the formal seal to the inauguration of that freedom in the form of a constitution.

00:50Later, at the reception, he welcomed the many guests who included Lady Mountbatten.

00:56Mr. and Mrs. Attlee were there.

01:00And Mr. Anthony Eden.

01:02The occasion was undoubtedly a happy augury for future relations between the British and Indian peoples.

01:07To mark the first anniversary of India's Republic Day, the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, arrived in state at Kingsway, New Delhi.

01:14He was greeted by Sardar Baldev Singh, Defence Minister, and also by the Naval and Air Force CMCs, who are British.

01:21The march passed by token units of India's fighting services was very smart indeed.

01:26There was ample evidence that tradition was being fully maintained.

01:30Representatives from India's most famous regiments were on parade, many of them veterans of World War II.

01:45Just returned from the Commonwealth Conference in London, where he strongly urged policies of negotiation,

01:52Mr. Nehru, the Prime Minister, now took stock of his country's military strength as troops, artillery, and armour went by.

02:15The Jaisalmer Camel Corps was a picturesque item in the big parade,

02:20and in addition to the armed forces, there was pageantry illustrating scenes from India's ancient history.

02:26Yes, Republic Day in New Delhi was certainly impressive.

02:31Driving in state to Kingsway, New Delhi, India's President came to take the salute on Republic Day.

02:36To western eyes, the great march past was certainly a picturesque parade.

02:39The column was three miles long and included representatives of more than 60 service units.

02:44The march past, together with the pageant that followed it, was the Indian capital's chief celebration of the National Day.

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