New Delhi: India is observing 76 years of Republic Day this year. The day was January 26, 1950, when India enacted its Constitution. The Constitution of India holds a special place in the heart of every Indian citizen. The Constitution was drafted with a lot of people involved, and the key role played by Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Dr BR Ambedkar. On this day, India was officially declared a sovereign, democratic, and secular republic.
The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and the day is observed as ‘Samvidhan Diwas’ every year. While we know the Indian Constitution is the longest in the world, many other important and interesting facts make our Constitution even more special. On Republic Day, let us look at some facts and figures related to the Constitution of India.
The Making of the Indian Constitution
- The Constituent Assembly took two years, 11 months and 17 days to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India.
- During this period, 11 sessions lasted a total of 165 days. Out of these, 114 days focused on discussing the Draft Constitution. Dr BR Ambedkar chaired the drafting committee and was crucial in shaping the document.
- After its creation on August 29, 1947, the Constitution Drafting Committee began reviewing the Draft Constitution prepared by the Constitutional Advisors and other notes and reports.
- Once the Draft Constitution was submitted to the President of the Constituent Assembly, it was published and shared with the public. They received many comments, critiques, and suggestions.
- The Drafting Committee considered these inputs and, on October 26, 1948, reprinted and resubmitted the Draft Constitution with a set of amendments.
- The Constituent Assembly then reviewed every Article of the Draft Constitution, discussing it clause by clause. The most important and extensive debates occurred during this stage until October 17, 1949.
- After the debates, the Drafting Committee revised the Constitution based on the decisions made by the Constituent Assembly.
- The revised Draft Constitution was submitted to the President of the Constituent Assembly on November 3, 1949, and introduced in the Assembly on November 14, 1949.
- The third and final reading of the Draft Constitution began with Ambedkar proposing that the Assembly pass the Constitution as settled. During this phase, there were only a few significant debates. Most speeches offered general comments on the Constitution as a whole.
- On November 26, 1949, the third reading ended with the Constituent Assembly voting in favour of Ambedkar’s motion from the previous stage.
Interesting Facts about the Indian Constitution
- The Indian Constitution is the world’s longest-written Constitution. It consists of 448 articles, 12 schedules, and 103 amendments. At the time of its commencement, it had 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 8 Schedules.
- Over 53,000 citizens attended the sessions of the Constituent Assembly for nearly three years to watch the debates on the Constitution’s drafting.
- On January 24, 1950, 284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the Constitution at Constitution Hall in New Delhi. That same day, the Constituent Assembly met for the last time, and they announced Dr Rajendra Prasad as the first President of India.
- The Constituent Assembly included 15 women members, including Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hansaben Jivraj Mehta, Sucheta Kripalani and G Durgabai. They advocated for equal rights at a time when many women worldwide lacked basic rights.
- The Constitution took effect on January 26, 1950, and GV Mavlankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha after India had become a Republic.
- It guarantees fundamental rights for all citizens, such as the right to free speech, equality before the law, and the right to life and personal liberty.
- The Constitution sets up a federal government with three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
- It establishes a parliamentary system, with the Prime Minister as the head of government and the President as the head of state.
- The Constitution also guarantees an independent judiciary, with the Supreme Court as the highest court in the country.
- The document recognises 22 languages as official languages, with Hindi and English as the official languages of the Union.
- The Constitution ensures a separation of powers among the three branches of government, creating a system of checks and balances.
- The Constitution has been amended several times to meet the country’s changing needs. The most recent amendment, in 2020, reorganised the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Artistic Heritage: The Handwritten Constitution of India
- The Constitution of India was carefully handwritten, not just printed or typed. Prem Behari Narain Raizada created the English version in an elegant Italic style, while Vasant Krishan Vaidya calligraphed the Hindi version. Raizada wrote the document in a room at the Constitution Hall, now known as the Constitution Club of India. He used various pen nibs during the process and included his name as a tribute in the document.
- Skilled artists from Shantiniketan decorated each page of the original Constitution.
- The original handwritten Constitution features illustrations of Indian culture and heritage designed by Nandalal Bose, a pioneer of modern Indian art, along with his student Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and 40 of their students.
- The Constitution is more than just a legal document; it is also a work of art. It is bound in black leather and has intricate gold patterns, showcasing a unique blend of beauty and governance.
- The original copies of the Indian Constitution are safely stored in special helium-filled cases at the Library of the Parliament of India, which also holds a large collection of books and important documents.
Indian Emblem
India adopted its national emblem and the Constitution on Republic Day, January 26, 1950. The emblem features the Lion Capital of Ashoka, with four lions standing back to back on a circular base. These lions symbolise power, courage, pride, and confidence. The phrase ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (Truth alone triumphs) appears below the emblem.
Republic Day: This article delves into fascinating facts and figures surrounding its creation, including the crucial role of Dr BR Ambedkar, the lengthy drafting process, and the original document’s artistic craftsmanship. Discover the intricate details and historical significance behind this landmark achievement. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
