Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3

Introduced by Senator Mendoza

December 8, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3—Relative to India Republic Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 3, as introduced, Mendoza. India Republic Day.

This measure would proclaim January 26, 2015, as India Republic Day, and would urge all Californians to join in 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 during
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 of 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 King
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; 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, 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;
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; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims January
26, 2015, as India Republic Day, and urges all Californians to join
in celebrating India Republic Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.