Indian Constitution Day: History and Significance

Constitution Day

• The adoption of the Indian Constitution is observed on November 26, 1949, known as Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas.
• The day commemorates the culmination of the Constituent Assembly's detailed work.

Historical Context

• India's constitutional framework has evolved since 1858.
• Colonial rulers primarily benefited from legislative actions.
• The 1942 Cripps Mission recognized the necessity of an Indian constitution.
• The British government was compelled to address India's constitutional issues due to a global change illustrated by the Cripps Mission.

Makers of the Constitution

• Manabendra Nath Roy suggested a Constituent Assembly in 1934.
• The Indian National Congress' manifesto for the 1936-37 elections included the request for a Constituent Assembly.
• With the start of World War II in 1939, the demand grew stronger.
• An assembly of elected officials, the Constituent Assembly, created the drafting.
• C. Rajagopalachari argued for a Constituent Assembly based on adult franchise on November 15, 1939; the British accepted this in August 1940.

Key Proposals and Missions

• Lord Linlithgow proposed in August 1940 that a representative assembly resolve India's constitutional future following the war.
• The 1942 Cripps Mission, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, sought Indian support during World War II, promising elections and dominion status after the war.
• Dissatisfaction among Native Indians with the suggested solution led to the failure of the Cripps Mission.
• The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, which concentrated on preserving India's unity and granting independence, made it easier to transfer power.
• The mission held discussions with elected officials to reach a consensus on the Constitution's drafting procedure.

Constituent Assembly Formation

• The Constituent Assembly elections were held in July 1946, and the first meeting took place in December 1946.
• Following partition, India was made up of British India and the princely states.
• The assembly originally had 389 representatives (one for every 10 lakh inhabitants), but after partition, that number was lowered to 299.
• The princely states, anticipating the establishment of independent states following British departure, first opted not to participate.
• The assembly was mostly chosen by members of existing provincial legislatures because there was no universal adult franchise, which guaranteed fair representation across political groupings, regions, castes, and classes.

Key Figures

• Women actively participated in the Constituent Assembly, playing a key role in nation-building.
• Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur were notable people.
• Among the notable people were Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, C. Rajagopalachari, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Purushottam Mavalankar.
• Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, Benegal Narsing Rau, K.M. Munshi, and Ganesh Mavlankar were notable jurists.
• The Constitution embodies the broad consensus of its time, has remained resilient, and its legitimacy has never been contested by a major social group or political party.

Sessions and Committees

• December 9, 1946, saw the start of the Constituent Assembly's inaugural session.
• For the two-day session, Dr. Sachidanand Sinha served as the initial temporary president.
• On December 11, 1946, during the second session, Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over as president, Harenda Kumar Mukherjee as vice president, and Benegal Narsing Rau as constitutional advisor.
• During the third meeting, on December 13, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru presented the Objectives Resolution, which was later adopted as the Preamble on January 22, 1947.
• The Constituent Assembly established 13 committees, including eight significant ones.
• The Drafting Committee (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar), the Union Powers Committee (Jawaharlal Nehru), and the Provincial Constitution Committee (Sar Vallabhbhai Patel) are the main committees.
• Subcommittees of the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas were the Fundamental Rights Subcommittee (J.B. Kripalani) and the Minority Subcommittee (Harendra Kumar Mookerjee).

Drafting and Adoption

• The Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution in an open and consensus-driven manner, taking 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
• The assembly meticulously examined the draught Constitution over 114 days, spread across 11 sessions totaling 165 days.
• More than 2,000 revisions were taken into account.
• The final version was formally approved and adopted on November 26, 1949.
• On January 24, 1950, members signed two copies (Hindi and English).
• The national anthem and the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were officially designated as the national song.
• On January 26, 1950, the Constitution was formally established, marking the beginning of Republic Day in India.

Republic Day Celebrations

• From 1950 to 1954, Republic Day Celebrations were initially held in various locations.
• The permanent location was designated as Rajpath in 1955.
• The members of the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the national anthem.
• The Constituent Assembly was transformed into the Parliament of India in accordance with the new Constitution.

Original Constitution

• Prem Behari Narain Raizada handwrote the original Constitution.
• Every page reflects the beliefs and goals of India's founders.
• Artists from Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan, illuminated the Constitution.
• The Constitution officially became the governing law for all states and territories of India on January 26, 1950.

Records and Debates

• Every document and word said at the Constituent Assembly was meticulously preserved and documented.
• The Constituent Assembly Debates, which are these records, comprise 12 large volumes.
• These debates offer the logic behind each constitutional provision, which helps in understanding the Constitution's meaning.

Characteristics of the Constitution

• The Indian Constitution is a global Constitution and stands as the supreme law of India.
• It is a living document that governs the country's system.
• The Constitution defines the fundamental political concepts, as well as the structure and functions of governmental institutions.
• It outlines basic rights, guiding principles, and responsibilities of citizens.
• It is the world's lengthiest written Constitution for a sovereign nation.
• The Constitution had 395 articles in 22 sections, eight schedules, and about 80,000 words when it first went into effect.
• Until the new Parliament was established in 1952, the Constituent Assembly was transformed into India's provisional Parliament on January 26, 1950.

Additional Functions of the Assembly

• In May 1949, the Assembly gave its stamp of approval to India's entry into the Commonwealth.
• It adopted the national flag on July 22, 1947, and chose the national song on January 24, 1950.
• On January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as India's first president.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is known as the Indian Constitution's architect.
• The Constitution specifies the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of governmental bodies.
• It describes basic rights, guiding principles, and citizen obligations to their homeland.
• The Constitution acts as the cornerstone for cooperative initiatives aimed at creating a new and free India.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's remarks

• In 1948, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar declared the Constitution to be workable, adaptable, and strong enough to keep the nation together in times of peace and war.
• He said that if anything goes wrong, it will be the fault of humanity.
• The collective responsibility of the people it governs is the source of the Constitution's strength.
• The Constitution is the result of thorough drafting and broad representation.

Explore the history and significance of Indian Constitution Day, celebrated on November 26th. Learn about the historical context dating back to 1858, the Cripps Mission, and the key figures who shaped the Constitution.