Constitution Day: Some Lesser Known Facts About Indian Constitution

By- Md. Mojahid Raza

Bhubaneswar: Also known as ‘Samvidhaan Diwas’, Constitution Day is celebrated in India on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of Constitution of India. On 26^th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26 January 1950.

The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. The declaration was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of the B.R Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai.

The year 2015 marked the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, who had chaired the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly and played a pivotal role in the drafting the Constitution of India. November 26 was chosen for the celebration of ‘Constitution Day’ which aims to spread the importance of the constitution and promote the thoughts and ideas of Dr. B.R Ambedkar.

On Constitution Day, here is a look at some of the lesser known facts about the Indian Constitution-

• Handwritten:

The constitution of India is a hand written document and not typed or printed. It consists as many as 48 articles, 12 schedules and 94 amendments, making it one of the largest in the world.

• Members:

A total of 283 members of the constituent assembly signed the constitution which came into being on 26th January, 1950.

• Time:

It took around 2 years, 11 months and 17 days for the Constituent Assembly for drafting the Constitution.

• Original Copy of Constitution:

The original hand-written copies of the Constitution are kept in helium-filled cases in the Library of Parliament House. Ths has been done to preserve them from erosion or damage.

• Date:

The date 26th January was especially selected since it was the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day (26th January 1930) i.e the day Indian congress seeded the fight for complete Independence and hoisted the Indian national flag for the first time.

• Good Omen:

It was a raining incessantly outside the parliament the day constitution was signed. This was considered to be a good omen by members of the assembly.

• Pioneer:

Dr. B.R Ambedkar, the first law minister of free India, a jurist, an economist, and a social reformer, was the Chairman of the Constitution Committee. He is rightly called the “Father of Indian Constitution”.

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