India got Independence from the British colonialists on 15th August 1947 after decades long struggles, sacrifices and martyrdom of thousands of our countrymen.

India became a Republic on 26th January 1950 after the passing of the Constitution and declaration.

The First Parliament, after the first General election, was constituted in 1952. The Congress was the ruling party and Communist Party of India the  main opposition party. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister and A.K.Gopalan the  Opposition Leader.The Indian Parliament has come through 60 years of valuable experience. Of course National Emergency was declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, but the next general election in 1977 brought a non-congress government for the first time. The wheels of democracy are on the move. There may be many setbacks, aberrations and sudden stops, but the chariot moves on.

The Parliament will be celebrating the 60th anniversary by a special session on Sunday, 13th May which will be addressed by the Speaker and other dignitaries. For a person, 60 year means marching to senior citizenship and gradual old age. But for a country 60 years is only a small period of time. But we have to remember that the last 60 years have been a period in which changes have taken place all over the world, which the earlier thousands of years could not match.

Congratulations to all who made the Indian democracy what it is today. Further improvements are, of course, very much required.