‘VandeMataram’

His Excellency Mr. Vinod K Jacob,

Ambassador of India to Bahrain

I want to wish the readers of The Daily Tribune on the occasion of the Republic Day of India, 2026. On this day in 1950, India, the new Constitution came into force commemorating the transition of the country into a Republic. The theme for this year’s Republic Day celebration centres on the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national initiative, ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ or self-reliance. It maybe recalled that Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875 and captured the national mood and yearning for unity and self respect among all Indians in the fight against colonialism.

President of the European Council Mr Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will be the Chief Guests for the Republic Day Parade 2026. Around 10,000 people from different walks of life are expected to witness the parade as Special Guests and 2,500 artists are scheduled to perform as part of the cultural performance. A Battle Array Format will be showcased by the Indian Army for the first time. Further, a total of 30 Tableaux will roll down Kartavya Path as part of the parade.

This year’s Republic Day is happening in the immediate aftermath of the International Monetary Fund raising its forecast for India’s economic growth in fiscal 2026 by 0.7 percentage points to 7.3%, citing strong momentum. In its World Economic Outlook report released on 19 January 2026, the IMF said the upward revision for fiscal 2026 reflected “better-than-expected outturn in the third quarter of the year and strong momentum in the fourth quarter.” A senior IMF official earlier told a press briefing that “India is a key growth engine for the world.” In contrast, the Fund projected global growth at 3.3% in 2026.

Let me take this opportunity to convey heartfelt congratulations on the declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Isa Al Kabeer” by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, celebrating the visionary founder of the modern Bahraini state and his enduring legacy of stability and institutional development. I sincerely thank His Majesty, King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the entire Royal Family, the Ministries and Departments of the Government of Bahrain and the friendly Bahraini society for their protection and support to the nearly 315000 Indian nationals living in the Kingdom. In 2025, we introduced electronic visa system in 14 categories for ease of travel for Bahraini nationals. This year also marks the 55th anniversary of establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Bahrain. I look forward to another productive year ahead in the bilateral relationship.