“Constitution isn’t a symbol that requires empty celebrations. It requires adherence to Constitutionalism.”
On November 26th every year the citizen of India celebrates the Constitution Day (or Samvidhan Diwas). It is a matter of national pride for all Indians. Formerly known as Law Day, it has now come to be recognized as Constitution day of India. It is observed on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Constitution of India. It came into force on 26th January 1950 that is observed as Republic Day. As citizens of India, we all must be aware of the significance of this day.
The History Behind the Constitution Day:
According to a recent report, 26th November was earlier celebrated as Law Day. It commemorated the pledge of Purna Swaraj, passed in the Lahore session of the Congress in 1930. Later on, The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi in the year 2015 marked 26th November as the Constitution Day of India during the celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19 November 2015, notified the decision of the Government of India to celebrate 26 November as “Constitution Day”. The day is celebrated to promote constitutional values among the citizens.
As per a report, the two months between the adoption and enforcement of the Constitution was used for reading and translation of the document from English to Hindi. The Constituent Assembly met for 166 days for two years, 11 months, and 18 days before the Constitution was finally adopted. The members of the Constituent Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document on 24th January 1950 and two days later, it became the law of the land.
Significance of Constitution Day:
The Constitution Day is celebrated as a mark of tribute to India's first Law Minister B. R. Ambedkar, who played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution. The occasion aims to bring awareness to the importance of the Indian Constitution and its architect, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. He was a renowned social reformer, politician, and jurist and is also called the Father of the Indian Constitution. He was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee on August 29, 1947.
"However good a constitution maybe, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a constitution maybe, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good"
-Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
He was the one who drafted Indian Constitution and in the year 2015 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi during the inauguration of Ambedkar’s statue of equity in Mumbai marked 26th November to be celebrated as Constitution Day. To understand the significance of the day, it is essential to be aware of Constitution Day's history. On this day, attempts are made to develop natural consciousness on the Indian Constitution and spread his nationalist ideas. Constitution day is celebrated on 26th November every year by many schools where students are made to read the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. As Indians, we must be aware of our Indian Constitution and this day attempts to generate that awareness in us.
The preamble of the Indian Constitution:
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic, and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 26th day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”
The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens' justice, equality, and liberty and endeavors to promote fraternity. The Indian constitution stood the test of time as India has been a successful democracy, unlike many others who had become independent at the same time.
Some FACTS related to the Indian Constitution:
- India boasts of the world's longest written Constitution among all sovereign counties in the world. It consists of 448 articles and is divided into 25 parts.
- The original Constitution of India was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada in an italic style.
- The original copies of the Indian Constitution were written in Hindi and English.
- Artists from Shantiniketan decorated every page of the Indian Constitution.
- The Constitution came into being after meetings that were held for 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
- Before its completion on 26th November 1949, the Constitution underwent more than 2,000 amendments.
- The concept of Five-Year Plans (FYP) was borrowed from the Constitution of the USSR, and the Directive Principles (socio-economic rights) incorporated in the Constitution were taken from the Constitution of Ireland.
- Liberty, equality, fraternity- words that appear in the Preamble were borrowed from the French Constitution.
- The Preambles of the Constitution of India and the United States of America have the same beginning. Both the Preambles begin with "We the People".
- Up to January 2020, the Indian Constitution has had 104 amendments.
