THE BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Added by Reporter India on January 21, 2013.
Saved under History
Tags: Constituent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, online news, president, reporter india, REPUBLIC OF INDIA, THE BIRTH, The Preamble

The Constituent assembly of India was formed to frame the Constitution of India. It meet for the first time in December 9, 1946 in the Constitution Hall now known as the Central Hall in the Indian Parliament. The Constituent Assembly was created by means of indirect election from the members of Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The members sat in semi circular rows facing the Presidential Dias. those who occupied the first row were Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Acharya J.B. Kripalani, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Shri Hare-Krushna Mahatab, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Shri Sarat Chandra Bose, Shri C. Rajagopalachari and Shri M. Asaf Ali. A total of two hundred and seven members attended which also included nine women. This was the first session of the Constituent Assembly.

First day of Constituent Assembly of India. From Left B. G. Kher and Sardar Vallabhai Patel; K. M. Munshi is seated behind Patel

On December, 1946 Pandit Nehru moved the Objectives Resolutions. The resolution was passed and unanimously adopted on 22^nd January 1947. The Assembly again meets on the historic evening of August 14, 1947 and took over as the Legislative Assembly of Independent India. A Drafting Committee was set up under the chairman ship of Dr. B R Ambedkar on August 29^th, 1947. The Constitutional adviser to the Assembly Sir B. N Rao, a brilliant ICS officer and judge prepared a draft constitution in October 1947. This draft was further revised by Ambedkar’s Drafting Committee and was finally placed for another round of discussion on November 1948. This draft was actually the basis of all debates and amendments to be introduced later on. It took a year for the members to debate on this draft, literally every sentences was put into discussion, and sometimes even every word! Finally after 2473 amendments, the drafting committee made a revised draft and was placed again on November 26, 1949.

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Dr Rajendra Prasad with C Rajagopalachari, source HT

After three readings, on 26 November 1949 the Constitution was passed, and this is also the date mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution of India wherein the People of India, adopted, enacted and gave themselves the Constitution. Although some of the provisions had to come into effect on 26^th January 1950 which is the date of the commencement of the Constitution. Therefore after eleven sessions from 9^th December 1946 to 26^th November 1949 the Constitution of India finally came into existence.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad signing the Constitution, Hindu Photo Archives

Before 26^th Januray 1950, the assembly was convened for the final session on 24th January 1950, to put the signatures of every members of the Assembly in the Constitution. In this last meeting it was announced that Dr Rajendra Prasad was to become India’s first President. Later Dr. Rajendra Prasad would declare Jana Gana Mana as the National Anthem and Vande Matram would be the National Song and both shall be treated with equal status. All the members put their signatures on the book, beginning with Pandit Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad had to be the last to put on his signature and should have signed below the last member, but he choose to sign in the space between the text and Nehru’s signature. But in the eleven pages of signatures one signature was probably missed by everyone, that of Mahatma Gandhi’s.

The Preamble

Now if I ask you who wrote the Constitution of India? I mean to ask who literally wrote the Constitution of India by hand. His name is little known, he is Prem Bihari Narain Raizada who wrote the hand written Constitution in flowing italic style. While the legendary painter from Santinekatan displayed exquisite craftsmanship in depicting some scenes from Indian History from Mohenjo Daro to the days of Indian Freedom struggle in some pages of the Constitution.

Then on 26^th January 1950, India’s first Republic Day the whole atmosphere around Delhi was charged. It was a very very busy day for Dr. Rajendra Prasad. He began the day by his visit to Raj Ghat where he paid tribute to the Father of the Nation. Mahatma Gandhi. After returning from Raj Ghat to Government House, in the auspicious and glamorous Darbar Hall, he was sworn in as the first President of India by C Raja Gopalachari. The historic ceremony was attended by President Sukarno from Indonesia and his wife and other dignitaries as well. The Chief Justice of India, Sir Hiralal Kania read him the oath in Hindi and Dr Rajendra Prasad repeated word by word. Thus the birth of a new Republic- Republic of India was announced at eighteen minutes past ten, and proclaimed by 31 gun salute at 10.30 a.m. It was followed by the President’s drive to the Irwin Stadium where the hoisting of the National Flag and the colorful parades would be held.

President in his carriage drawn by Australian horses,source HT

He drove in a 35 year old horse carriage to the stadium at around 2.30 pm, and in this five mile journey people lined up the street greeting him with tricolor and slogans, “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. The President was accompanied to the stadium by the elite President’s bodyguard who trace their origins from the rule of Warren Hastings. Later he joined Brigadier J.S Dhillon to inspect the parade. The army units comprised of the Infantry and the Cavalry regiments, the Navy , services Contingents, the Air Force, Units of the Punjab Regiment and the Police.

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Film Divison of India videographing India’s first Republic Day Parade, source HT

It was a life time moment for all Indians, and the President himself has stated this rightly in his speech, “Today for the first time in our long and chequered history we find the whole of this vast land from Kashmir in the North to the Cape Comorin in the South, from Kathiawar and Cutch in the West to Coconada and Kamrup in the East, brought together under the jurisdiction of Constitution and one Union which takes over the responsibility for the welfare of more than 320 million men and women that inhabit it. Its administration will now be carried by its people and for its people. This country has great natural resources, and now has come to it the great opportunity to make its vast population happy and prosperous and to make it own contribution to the establishment of peace in the world.”

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