How to teach kids about the Republic day

Introduction:

Patriotism gives us the feeling of purpose, let us care for our fellow people, and makes us more responsible. In most cases, patriotism leaves no ground in mind for selfishness to sprout. As soon as a person starts loving their country, their selfish needs begin to dwindle. When parents make it their goal to teach their children to be patriotic, their little ones forsake pursuing trivial pleasures of life and start to feel a higher calling. Due to this noble commitment and single-mindedness, the probability of them enjoying fulfilling lives immensely increases. 

Instilling patriotism right from their young age will also help kids get a sense of belonging and greater purpose. Their volition of putting the country first, and by extension its people, develops, molding them into extraordinary citizens. 

And what other day is more suitable for infusing patriotism in children than Republic Day? It is the optimal time to teach our kids the history of our country, the endurance and tenacity of our valiant freedom fighters, and about the resultant independence we all get to enjoy. So let’s get started.

Independence Day and Republic Day:

The foremost thing you have to do is teach your children the difference between these two candy-ridden national holidays. Independence and republic are like apples and oranges. The former was when the British Raj ended in India, and we ousted them on August 15th, 1947. While the latter, celebrated on January 26th, 1950, marks the day when India became a republic by adopting its fresh constitution, which is the largest written constitution in the world, and Dr. Ambedkar is considered to be its head architect. 

Significance of Republic Day:

Countries are, by definition, a bordered landmasses composed of people of different shades and colors. And India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. You compare the South to Northeast or East to West, and it won’t surprise you that the cultures are completely different. So how is it justifiable to let a single person rule the entirety of a country that flaunts so much diversity? We have all witnessed the nefarious ways of monarchy or dictatorship; our ancestors even suffered one. When one person or one family rules the country, chances are, the citizens will not lead peaceful and happy lives. Its citizens should rule the country rather than just one family or a class of people. 

Taking this into account, on 26th 1950, our forefathers announced that India is a republic; our motto is ‘Government of the people, for the people, by the people.’ Thanks to our collective decision to make India a republic, we have tools like elections and legislative assemblies. It is the observance of the day on which the country unified and agreed to elect its administrators and follow the framework laid down in the constitution. Democracy begins here. 

How to teach kids about Republic day?

1. Have a small get together in your house, not unlike the one you have for your kid’s birthday. Tricolor cakes, food, and drinks will be a bonus. 
2. Make children hoist our flag and give out candies. It was every kid’s dream to hoist a flag during Independence Day or Republic day in school. When you make it happen in your house, with a small pole and flag, it will make the child happy and the event memorable. You can also bundle the flowers inside the flag to make it more exciting. 
3. Parents shall recite a small speech they’ve written on some particular slice of our country’s road to freedom history. A few days before the event, parents can discuss and decide on various topics they feel the children must know to develop patriotism. From the British invasion to the day we finally achieved independence, there is a horde of subjects to pick and talk about.
4. Parents can further extend their children’s involvement by engaging them in fun activities. They can have a dress-up, and parents can dress their kids up like key players who contributed to India becoming a republic.
5. Older kids can even be given republic-day related topics and asked to write an essay on it. And on the day, they can read it out loud in front of the gathering.
6. Decorate foods, drinks, and the whole place where the observance takes place in tricolor. 

Information Nuggets:

1. At a whopping 1,46,385-word long, the Indian constitution is the largest in the world, with 22 parts and 444 articles.
2. On 26th, 1950, we celebrated our first Republic Day in Rajpath Delhi and held our first ostentatious parade. This parade still occurs every January 26th on Red Fort, where we boast our military strength and cultural heritage in colorful ways.
3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of free India, was also the first person to hoist our Indian flag on Republic day.
4. Each year, presidents of different countries are invited to our Republic day parade. This year, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil is going to honor us with his presence. 
5. Awards such as Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are presented. Even awards for bravery are given to both government servants and civilians. 
6. The Republic day is a three-day event, finally coming to an end on 29th, while the tune of Sare Jahan Se Acchcha is played and the flag is brought down.

Conclusion:

One republic day is not even close to enough to teach kids about our country’s colorful heritage or the dozens of leaders who struggled and sacrificed their lives to obtain the freedom we all enjoy today. But it is a start. The stories you teach your children during this day makes him/her more patriotic, differentiate right from wrong, and ultimately, he/she will want to imitate the freedom fighters and do their best to help their fellow humans. This doesn’t just give them incredible personality to tackle life, but also an opportunity to think about climbing the government hierarchy to go good for the people.

 

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