On the 77th Republic Day of India, the lawn of Archbishop House at Park Street, Kolkata, became a quiet yet powerful space of reflection, unity, and renewed commitment as people from all faiths and religious traditions gathered for We The Republic, an initiative of the United Interfaith Foundation – India. Far beyond a ceremonial observance, the gathering was a deeply human moment where citizens came together not as representatives of different communities, but as equal stakeholders of the Republic, bound by a shared Constitution and a common moral responsibility. Against the backdrop of the tricolour and the solemn presence of the Constitution of India, participants collectively renewed their pledge to uphold the values enshrined in its Preamble — justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and secularism. The act of standing shoulder to shoulder, reciting the pledge together, carried a resonance that went beyond words. It was a reaffirmation that the Republic is not sustained merely by institutions or laws, but by the everyday choices, conscience and conduct of its people. The spirit of interfaith harmony was at the heart of the gathering. Religious Leaders, Faith Leaders, Community leaders, elders, youth and women from diverse religious backgrounds stood together on the same lawn, embodying the idea that India’s unity is not born of sameness, but of respectful coexistence. Each presence was a reminder that the Republic was built on the ideals of inclusion and mutual dignity, and that faith, when guided by constitutional values, becomes a force for compassion, service and social cohesion.

What lent the occasion its profound warmth was its human texture. Memories of the early years of the Republic mingled with the hopes of a younger generation; lived experiences of service, teaching, caregiving and community work found resonance in the constitutional promise of equal opportunity and justice. The symbolic holding of hands of all faith beside the Constitution stood as a gentle yet enduring image — a reminder that the Constitution is a living light, one that must be protected, passed on and practiced, not merely preserved.

As voices reflected on the meaning of citizenship in today’s India, the gathering reaffirmed that We The Republic is not a slogan, but a shared responsibility. It calls upon every citizen to defend democratic values, to speak for the marginalised, to respect differences, and to strengthen the social fabric through empathy and dialogue. In a time when divisions often dominate public discourse, the event stood as a calm assertion that India’s greatest strength lies in its constitutional conscience.

Present were Archbishop Most Rev. Elias Frank (Archbishop of Calcutta), Satnam Singh Ahluwalia (General Secretary United Interfaith Foundation – India and General Secretary Gurdwara Behala), Qari Altafur Rahman (Imam-E-Eidaan) Moulana Syed Zaki Hasan Rizvi,Imam e Jumma(Shia Muslim), Ervard Jimmy Taraporwalla, Head Priest Parsi Fire Temple (Parsi), Jb Ahamed Hassan (Chairman West Bengal Minorities' Commission), Nanak Sambtani (Sindhi), Br. Divakar Chaitanya (Central Chinmaya Mission Trust), Swami Achyutananda (International Vedanta Society), Munni Mani Kumar Maharaj (Jain Monk), Imran Zaki (FACES), Rev Dr Sunil Caleb (Principal Bishops College, CNI Church), Dr Arunjyoti Bhikkhu (Buddhist), Shakir Randerian, Munni Mani Kumar Maharaj (Jain Monk), Md Jamal Ahmed ,Swami Debrata Nanda (Ramkrishna Mission Alambazar), Fr Sunil Rosario among others.

The observance concluded with a collective resolve to carry the spirit of the day beyond the lawns of Archbishop House — into classrooms, neighbourhoods, places of worship and public life. The message was clear and unwavering: the Republic was built on ideals of dignity, equality and justice, and it is through collective faith in the Constitution and commitment in action that those ideals will continue to define India’s journey forward.

“Faith teaches us compassion, and the Constitution gives that compassion a public and civic expression. When people of different faiths gather in harmony to uphold constitutional values, it reflects the very soul of India. Today’s gathering reminds us that we must stand together and uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution— values that must guide us as citizens and as people of faith”, said Most Rev. Elias Frank Archbishop of Calcutta & President, United Interfaith Foundation – India “We The Republic is not a phrase we inherit once a year — it is a responsibility we must live every day. The Constitution is the moral spine of our nation, and when people of all faiths stand together beside it, we reaffirm that India’s strength lies in unity, justice, and shared citizenship. Our pledge today is a promise to protect dignity, defend equality, and keep the spirit of the Republic alive through our actions.”, said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia General Secretary, United Interfaith Foundation – India