We all know that our Indian constitution is the lengthiest in the world. The day we celebrate our republic day is the day our constitution was legally enforced. Constitution was originally written in two languages, i.e., Hindi and English. The remarks were given on October 11, 2015, when B. R. Ambedkar's Statue of Equality memorial's foundation stone was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Let us know more about Constitution Day in the article below.
When do we celebrate Constitution Day?
Every year on November 26th, Constitution Day, also known as National Law Day (or Samvidhan Diwas) in India, is commemorated to honour the adoption of the Constitution of India. The Constituent Assembly formally enacted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949. It became effective on January 26, 1950, and was recognised as Republic Day.
History of Constitution Day of India
The two months between the Constitution's approval and enforcement were used to read the document carefully and translate it from English to Hindi. Before the Constitution was adopted, the Constituent Assembly met for over two years, 11 months, and 18 days.
On January 24, 1950, the members of the Constituent Assembly manually signed two copies of the document, one in Hindi and one in English. The Indian Constitution came into effect two days later. Language, rights, minorities, and governance frameworks were important topics discussed.
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The day before the Constituent Assembly's activities ended on November 25, 1949, BR Ambedkar delivered an inspirational speech. Three future admonitions were given at the conclusion. The first dealt with the function of public protest in a democracy. "Civil disobedience, non-cooperation, and satyagraha practises must be abandoned," he stated.
The second caution addressed blind obedience to charismatic authority. "Bhakti in religion may lead to a person's salvation. But in politics, bhakti, or hero worship, is a guaranteed path to decline and, ultimately, dictatorship, according to Ambedkar.
Inequality and hierarchy were still deeply ingrained in Indian society; thus, Indians shouldn't be satisfied with political democracy, was his final advice. "We will only be able to continue to deny it (equality) for as long as we do so by jeopardising our democratic system," he warned.
Why is 26th Nov celebrated as Constitution Day?
As the day the country's Constituent Assembly officially ratified the current constitution, November 26 is a significant day for independent India. The constitution's essential rights now serve as the citizens' shield, and its fundamental duties remind us of our responsibilities. Every year on November 26, India celebrates its Constitution Day. The 26th of November used to be recognised as National Law Day.
Importance of Constitution Day
As part of a tribute to Dr B. R. Ambedkar's 125th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared November 26 to be the Constitution Day of India in 2015. The purpose of Constitution Day in India is to raise awareness of the significance of the Indian Constitution and Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who wrote it.
Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution, was a well-known social reformer, politician, and jurist. On August 29, 1947, he was chosen to lead the group responsible for drafting the constitution.
What happens on 26th Nov?
- Educational institutions read the Preamble on Constitution Day. There are also Constitution-related quizzes and mock parliamentary discussions.
- Online participation is available for citizens to celebrate Constitution Day. The Preamble can be read in various languages on one of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs' two digital portals, and you can take a quiz on the other.
- The government urges the people to engage heartily in Constitution Day events and earn awards.
- Meanwhile, guests will attend celebrations at the Supreme Court, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The JustIS Mobile App 2.0, the Digital court, and the S3WaaS Websites are among the new applications and websites the prime minister plans to unveil to optimise the legal system.
- The JustIS Mobile App 2.0 will assist judges in keeping track of the status and resolution of cases.
- Judges will have digitised access to court records thanks to digital courts.
- The S3WaaS Websites will offer data and services pertaining to district courts.
The timeline
H C Mukherjee was named its vice-chairman, and Rajendra Prasad was nominated as the president. Ambedkar was named the chairman of the drafting committee, together with Munshi N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Khaitan, Mitter, Muhammad Sadulla, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer.
The constitution assembly was established.
The first meeting was held.
The members of the Constituent Assembly manually signed two copies of the document, one in Hindi and one in English.
The constitution of India came into force.
Interesting facts about the Constitution of India
- It was M N Roy who suggested the Indian Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar, known as the constitution's father, and Dr Rajendra Prasad who first signed it.
- Article 32 is regarded as ‘the Heart and Soul’ of the Indian Constitution.
- 308 members of the constituent assembly signed the Indian Constitution.
- 2000 amendments were made before the release of the final draft.
- Indian Constitution is also known as the ‘Bag of borrowings’ as it borrowed provisions from the constitution of various countries.
Conclusion
Dr B. R. Ambedkar, popularly referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," marked his 125th birthday in 2015. The Modi government had planned a year of festivities to honour the head of the constitution-drafting committee. At one of these events in Mumbai in May 2015, Prime Minister Modi declared November 26 to be "Constitution Day," which had previously been referred to as "Law Day."