R-Day

One of the major national holidays of India, Republic Day is celebrated to remember the transition of India into a republic nation and the implementation of the Constitution of India on January 26th, 1950. A grand event is organized in the capital of New Delhi, wherein the President hoists and unfurls the Indian flag, which is followed by a massive parade. India welcomes a different chief guest every year to witness its Republic Day celebrations. The honorable chief guest is the head of state or government of another country. The guest is chosen on the basis of certain factors, be it, strategic, diplomatic, business interest or international geo-politics. Given in this article is the list of the chief guests that have attended the Republic Day program since 1976 in the capital city of New Delhi. Since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. During 1950–1954, Republic Day celebrations were organised at different venues (like Irwin Stadium (National Stadium), Kingsway (Rajpath), Red Fort and Ramlila grounds). It was only starting 1955 when the parade in its present form was organised at Rajpath. The guest country is chosen after a deliberation of strategic, economic and political interests. During 1950s–1970s, a number of NAM and Eastern Bloc countries were hosted by India. In the post-Cold War era, India has also invited several Western leaders on a state visit during the Republic Day. It is notable that before India fought wars with China and Pakistan, leaders from these countries were invited as state guests for the Republic Day celebrations. Interestingly, Pakistan Food and Agriculture Minister was the second state guest from that country for Republic Day in 1965, a few days after which the two countries went to a war. Countries which have been invited multiple times include India's neighbours (Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius), defence allies (Russia/USSR, France and Britain), trade partners (Brazil) and NAM allies (Nigeria, Indonesia and erstwhile Yugoslavia). France and Bhutan have the distinction of being the guest of honour for the maximum (four) number of times followed by three visits each from Mauritius and USSR/Russia.

List of Chief Guests At Republic Day

1950:President Sukarno, Indonesia

1954:King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Bhutan

1955:Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Pakistan

1961:Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom  

1963:King Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia

1965:Food and Agriculture Minister Abdul Hamid, Pakistan

1968:Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin, USSR

1968:President Josip Broz Tito, SFR Yugoslavia

1969:Prime Minister of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria

1971:President Julius Nyerere, Tanzania

1972:Prime Minister Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius

1973:President Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire

1974:President Josip Broz Tito, SFR Yugoslavia

1974:Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka

1975:President Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia

1976:Prime Minister Jacques Chirac, France

1978:President Dr. Patrick Hillery, Ireland

1980:President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, France

1985:President Raul Alfonsin, Argentina

1986:Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, Greece

1987:President Alan Garcia, Peru

1988:President Junius Jayewardene, Sri Lanka

1992:President Mário Soares, Portugal

1993:Prime Minister John Major, United Kingdom

1994:Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Singapore

1995:President Nelson Mandela, South Africa

1996:President Dr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Brazil

1997:Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, Trinidad and Tobago

1998:President Jacques Chirac, France

1999:King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Nepal

2000:President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria

2001:President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria

2002:President Cassam Uteem ,Mauritius

2003:President Mohammed Khatami, Iran

2004:President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil

2005:King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, Bhutan

2006:King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Saudi Arabia

2007:President Vladimir Putin, Russia

2008:President Nicolas Sarkozy, France

2009:President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan

2010:President Lee Myung bak, Republic of Korea

2011:President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia

2012:Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand

2013:King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck