Brief history  It was on this date in 1927 that the Indian National Congress, then fighting its non-violent war for freedom, voted for complete independence as against 'dominion status'. When members of the INC took the pledge to work towards a 'sovereign democratic republic' of India. Under the president ship of J.L. Nehru in 1930 INC took oath of “Purna Swaraj” and since then it was celebrated as the Independence Day till 1950.

How to celebrate the day  
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 honour to participate in this event, as do the school children from various schools in the capital. 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. 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 in occasion, which makes the Republic Day the most popular of all the national holidays of India. The famous special message by the first President of India to his countrymen (on the birth of the Indian Republic) "We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realization of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless, co-operative, free and happy society in his country".

ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM ON THE EVE OF 55th REPUBLIC DAY - 2004
Dear Citizens, on the eve of 55th Republic Day of India, I am happy to wish all the billion citizens of our country including those living abroad. I also wish the members of the armed forces and paramilitary forces who guard our frontiers on the land, the sea and the air and also internal security forces. I would like to share some of my thinking for evolution of a beautiful India, combining economic prosperity and value system drawn from our heritage.
Indian economy shows a very robust and consistent growth, indicated by the recent 8.4% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2003-2004. Our foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $100 billion mark and are continuously rising. This has made our economy one of the fastest growing in the world. Economists all around the world predict that by the year 2020, the world economic scenario will be completely different from what it is today, and India will occupy a boastful position.
Indian economy shows a very robust and consistent growth, indicated by the recent 8.4% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2003-2004. Our foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $100 billion mark and are continuously rising. This has made our economy one of the fastest growing in the world. Economists all around the world predict that by the year 2020, the world economic scenario will be completely different from what it is today, and India will occupy a boastful position.
Indian industries in certain sectors have matured to be very responsive to the national and international needs and have shown steady growth. Interest rates from the banks need to be more proactive to stimulate the growth of small, medium scale industry and agro food processing industries. The combination of entrepreneurship education in the schools and colleges, the hassle free flow of venture capital and evolution of good market will give additional momentum for national growth.
Dear citizens, for the next five years, with certain progress behind us, the challenge we have, is to launch a major thrust for attaining national prosperity. We should convert the present opportunity and work towards giving our future generations, a competitive nation which has the following characteristics. 

a. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy. 
b. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line. 
c. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution of energy and quality water.
d. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony, absorbing technology thereby resulting in sustained wealth generation leading to higher employment potential.
e. A Nation where education is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
f. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars and scientists all over the world.
h. A Nation where the governance uses the best of the technologies to be responsive, transparent, easily accessible and simple in rules, thereby corruption free. i. A Nation where poverty has been totally alleviated, illiteracy and crime against women are eradicated and the society is unlamented. 
i. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in, on the earth and brings smiles on a billion faces.
These are the dimensional transformations needed for a competitive India and we have to work for. 
With farmers in focus, farming technology as their friend, and food processing and marketing as partners is indeed the second green revolution. From now on to 2020, India would have to gradually increase the production to around 400 million tones per annum. The increase in the production will have to be done under the reduced availability of land from 170 million hectares to 100 million hectares with reduced water availability using technological inputs.
Institutions of Pharmaceutical sciences and Pharmacy industries need to evolve an integrated and comprehensive National Pharmacy Vision to meet the challenges of design to drug development, production and marketing. The major challenge before the Pharmacy community is to prevent the entry of spurious drugs and eradicate it's presence in the market.
With our self-reliance in our Space program it is time we should enter into the global market aggressively. The exploration of the moon through 'Chandrayaan' and keeping our sight on the Mars will electrify the entire country, particularly young scientists and children. 
Modernization of our armed forces with force multipliers is indeed progressing to meet the national security needs. Defense technology has led to the development of long range missile systems and supersonic cruise missile, Light Combat Aircraft, Electronic warfare systems, radars, under-water sensors, combat vehicles and armaments. The Indo-Russian joint venture program - BRAHMOS is one of the leading examples of development, production and marketing of state-of-the-art missile system.
Our power generation capacity of hundred thousand megawatt has to be tripled by the year 2020. The present nuclear capacity of 2700 Megawatts should be enhanced to more than 20,000 Megawatts by 2020.
Every academic institution and R&D Organization is a reservoir of knowledge. Technology will also spin off to societal products that are cost effective, high quality and available to the people in time. The scientific community must realize that the competitiveness can come only by integrated mission driven program partnered by academy, R&D organization and industry.
As a nation, we have to keep our environment clean and tidy. This is essential for better health conditions of all the citizens and also for also the tourists visiting our country. It is essential that we keep all our places of worship and rivers clean and tidy to preserve innate divinity.
Every citizen has got a role to choose the right representative to the Parliament and Legislatures the right to vote is the greatest power given by the democracy. I would like to appeal to all eligible voters to exercise their franchise without fail, fear or favor.

Conclusion 
India is very fortunate to have 540 million youth out of a billion people. Time has now come for us to make our country, righteous. Righteousness comes out of good character. The evolution of good character leads to harmony in home. Harmony in home brings the people of the state to become enlightened citizens. Enlightened citizens lead the planet earth to be peaceful world.
Oath
Let's take oath on wake of the 56th Republic Day to work towards making India a prosperous, happy and secure nation.
Almighty, the God is with us. 

JAI HIND