Commonwealth Day in India – May 24

Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in the month of March every year.(In 2021, it was observed on March 8, 2021). But Commonwealth Day in India is commemorated every year on 24^th May.

• This day is also known as Empire Day commemorates the formation of the British Empire in India and other colonies of Britain. It is observed across the 54 Commonwealth Nations to promote Commonwealth’s shared values of peace, democracy, and equality, and to celebrate the association’s rich diversity.
• According to India, Sat-bhakti is the real Commonwealth for human society. Sat-bhakti (True Worship) of Supreme God Kabir obtained from enlightened Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the real Commonwealth for humans.

Theme for 2021 Commonwealth Day is ‘Delivering a Common Future’. The aim of this theme is to highlight how the 54 Commonwealth countries are innovating, connecting, and transforming to help achieve essential goals like tackling climate change, promoting good governance, achieving gender equality.

History of May 24:-Commonwealth Day is observed on the birth date of Queen Victoria, who was born on 24^th May 1819. The first Empire Day was celebrated on May 24, 1902.

History of Commonwealth Day:-

• Commonwealth Day was formerly called Empire Day, as a celebration of the birth of Queen Victoria after 1916. In 1916, Lord Meath expanded the celebration of Empire Day to all the nations of the Commonwealth
• In 1958, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Harold Macmillan renamed this day ‘Commonwealth Day’.
• The date of Commonwealth Day was changed to June 10, to match with the official birthday of the present Queen Elizabeth II. However, it was again changed in 1977 to the second Monday in March.