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India will celebrate its 76th Republic Day on 26 January 2025, marking the adoption of its constitution on this day in 1950, following independence from British rule. The constitution, adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly, came into effect on 26 January 1950,a date chosen to honor the Indian National Congress’s declaration of complete independence (Purna Swaraj) in 1930.<\/p>\n
However, this raises an important question: does India’s independence truly reflect the core values of a democratic and republican state? Can all groups and regions within India genuinely claim to have sovereignty and dignity in the state?<\/p>\n
Kashmiris on both sides of the border observe 26 January as Black Day. This day serves as a painful reminder of their ongoing struggle, sacrifices, and the atrocities committed by Indian state-sponsored forces.<\/p>\n
On 21 January 1990, just two days after Jagmohan Malhotra was appointed as the Governor of Indian-Occupied Kashmir, people in Srinagar organized a massive protest against human rights abuses by Indian forces. As the peaceful protestors reached the Gawkadal Bridge, Indian troops opened indiscriminate fire, killing over 100 people, injuring many more, and subjecting several women to horrific assaults.Just four days later, on 25 January 1990, the Handwara Massacre occurred, one day before India\u2019s Republic Day. Indian forces fired on unarmed protestors demanding freedom (Azadi) and their basic rights, killing over 25 people and injuring more than 100.<\/p>\n
The atrocities didn\u2019t stop there. On 19 January 1991, Indian paramilitary troops massacred 14 civilians in Srinagar\u2019s Magarmal Bagh area. The people were protesting the occupation of their land and apple orchards for military purposes. Decades have passed, but justice remains out of reach for the victims of these massacres.For the people of Kashmir, January is a month of mourning and sorrow. The brutal killings that took place in this month stand in stark contrast to the values India claims to celebrate on its Republic Day, 26 January.<\/p>\n
The Sopore Massacre: A Day of Heartbreak<\/p>\n
32 years ago, on January 6, 1993, the town of Sopore in Kashmir was struck by one of the most tragic events in its history. The Indian Army carried out a brutal attack, killing 57 innocent civilians. The devastation didn\u2019t stop there 75 homes and 400 shops were set on fire, and much of the town was reduced to ashes. Many people were burned alive in their homes, leaving a deep, lasting pain in the hearts of the Kashmir community.<\/p>\n
The Sopore Massacre was not a one-time tragedy, but part of a painful pattern of violence meant to instill fear and punish the people of Kashmir.<\/p>\n
The Kupwara Massacre will forever remain a heartbreaking chapter in Kashmir\u2019s history. On January 27, 1994, the people of Kupwara paid a heavy price for standing up against oppression. A day earlier, the town had observed a shutdown on India\u2019s Republic Day as a mark of protest.<\/p>\n
This act of defiance enraged the Indian army personnel stationed in the area. To punish the people, soldiers of the Punjab Regiment, led by Second Lieutenant S. Bakhshi, opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire near the town\u2019s bus stand. Twenty-seven innocent civilians lost their lives that day, and countless others were left injured.<\/p>\n
On 26 January 1996, as India celebrated its Republic Day, the Indian army, positioned along the Line of Control (LOC), targeted innocent civilians in the village of Kahuta, Azad Jammu Kashmir. Missiles were launched at the Jamia Masjid Kahuta, where people were offering their Jummah prayers during the holy month of Ramadhan. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 21 lives, with many others left injured.<\/p>\n
January has been a month marked by tragic events where India has attempted to silence the voices of those questioning the true essence of Republic Day. From brutal massacres to human rights violations, this month alone reflects the struggles of countless individuals, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, who have faced oppression for simply demanding justice, freedom, and peace.<\/p>\n
These incidents are just a small part of a much bigger picture. Over the years, thousands of such stories have unfolded, revealing how the ideology of RSS and the Hindutva-led policies of the Indian government have deeply impacted the region, fueling division and eroding peace. According to reports from the United Nations and human rights organizations, India has witnessed a range of serious human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, and across other states like Punjab, where the Sikh community has also suffered. Thousands of Kashmiris have been blinded by pellet guns, with reports stating that over 6,000 people have either partially or completely lost their sight due to these brutal weapons. Moreover, extrajudicial killings by security forces have been rampant, with over 1,000 civilians reported killed between 2008 and 2018 alone. Forced displacement, the sealing of properties, and the use of civilian homes for military purposes have become common tactics used to oppress the population.<\/p>\n
Women, in particular, have faced sexual violence, including abduction, rape, and assault, with security forces being implicated in these heinous acts. The imposition of travel bans, forced disappearances, and the ongoing violence along the Line of Control (LoC) continue to cause fear and pain for Kashmiris. These violations also extend beyond Kashmir, particularly impacting the Sikh community in Punjab, who have long faced repression and violence in the name of maintaining control.<\/p>\n
This Republic Day on 26th January 2025, while India celebrates its national pride, the people of Kashmir continue to endure silence and oppression. Authorities have blocked internet and phone networks, just as they do every year for both Indian Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations. Barricades were set up on all major roads, and police conducted stop-and-search operations throughout the city, making it impossible for people to move freely.<\/p>\n
An elderly man summed up the painful reality: \u201cWe were sold to India, and they celebrate their existence on this day. Ask the common people about the suffering under Indian rule; not a single day passes without someone being killed. This day only reminds us of the oppression.\u201d<\/p>\n
While India marks its Republic Day with national pride, Kashmiris are forced into silence, with government employees and students compelled to celebrate, despite the ongoing hardships they face. The contrast couldn\u2019t be starker \u2013 a celebration of freedom for some, and a reminder of unyielding suffering for others.<\/p>\n
This state of affairs has sparked ongoing unrest and movements for freedom and rights across India. The Khalistan Movement in Punjab calls for a separate Sikh state, while the Kashmir Freedom Movement continues to demand self-determination and justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Manipur Independence Movement and Nagaland Insurgency seek to address the demands for autonomy in India’s Northeast, with Mizoram and Assam also witnessing ongoing movements for independence or greater self-governance. Other regions like Telangana, Maharashtra, and the Maratha Reservation Movement reflect local struggles for political recognition, cultural rights, and economic justice.<\/p>\n
How can a country that celebrates its Republic Day, honoring democracy and freedom, be so blind to the ongoing oppression of its own people? These violations, across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, expose the gap between the ideals of the Republic and the reality for many communities. It raises the question\u2014can a nation that continues to violate human rights and silence its people truly claim to honor the values it celebrates on Republic Day?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
India will celebrate its 76th Republic Day on 26 January 2025, marking the adoption of its constitution on this day in 1950, following independence from British rule. The constitution, adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly, came into effect on 26 January 1950,a date chosen to honor the Indian National Congress’s declaration of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":166180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/assests\/2025\/01\/7566612741516949998.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}