When Pakistan’s 'Coup-Loving' Governor General Was India’s Republic Day Chief Guest

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 09:16 IST

In 1955, India invited Pakistan’s Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad — who had dismissed elected governments and dissolved parliament — as Republic Day chief guest

The event took place 71 years ago, at a time when India was still shaping many of its post-Independence institutions and traditions. (News18 Hindi)

In one of the lesser-remembered episodes of India’s diplomatic history, Pakistan’s then Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad was invited as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations in 1955. The event took place 71 years ago, at a time when India was still shaping many of its post-Independence institutions and traditions.

Malik Ghulam Muhammad had an administrative background rooted in pre-Partition India. He studied at Aligarh Muslim University and worked as a chartered accountant under the British administration. Before 1947, he served in the Indian Railway Accounts Service and was a financial adviser to the Nizam of Hyderabad. After Partition, he moved to Pakistan and became its first finance minister.

In 1951, following the assassination of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, Khwaja Nazimuddin shifted from the post of Governor General to Prime Minister. Malik Ghulam Muhammad was subsequently appointed Governor General. During his tenure, Pakistan witnessed major constitutional upheavals. In 1953, he dismissed Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin’s government. In 1954, he dissolved Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly after it attempted to curtail the Governor General’s powers. These actions were carried out with the support of senior military leadership, including General Ayub Khan, who later became Pakistan’s Army Chief and President.

Despite the strained relationship between India and Pakistan in the years following Partition, Malik Ghulam Muhammad was hosted as the chief guest at the 1955 Republic Day ceremony held at Rajpath (now Kartavya Path).

The 1955 Republic Day celebrations were also significant for India as several practices introduced that year went on to become lasting traditions:

• Republic Day at Rajpath: From 1950 to 1954, Republic Day celebrations were held at venues such as Irwin Amphitheatre (now Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium). In 1955, the ceremony was organised at Rajpath for the first time, establishing it as the permanent venue.
• Permanent parade format: Earlier parades were conducted at different locations, including Irwin Stadium, Kingsway, the Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan. In 1955, Rajpath was designated as the fixed parade route, giving the event a standardised format.
• Expansion of the ceremony: The initial Republic Day events were relatively modest, with limited participation. By 1955, the scale of the ceremony had increased, with more military contingents and organised band performances.
• Showcasing of all three armed forces: While earlier parades focused largely on ground forces, the 1955 celebrations featured coordinated participation by the Army, Navy and Air Force, including an Indian Air Force flypast.
• Introduction of cultural tableaux: The mid-1950s marked the beginning of cultural and state tableaux in the Republic Day parade, adding a new dimension beyond military display and becoming a recurring feature in later years.

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