This day raises awareness about the Indian Constitution day of India. In 2019, it marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.
About National Constitution Day or Constitution Day of India
26 November has its own importance in the history of independent India. On this day in 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted and it came in to effect on 26 January 1950. Therefore, marking the dawn of a new era.
To acknowledge the contribution of the framers of the Constitution and to aggravate the people regarding the prominent values, 26 November is celebrated as the ‘Constitution Day’.
The day, November 26, 1946, was a proud moment for the young country. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly. In his speech before the adoption of the constitution had paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation.
National Constitution Day: Celebrations
In all the Government Offices or Institutions the celebrations will start by reading the ‘Preamble’ of the Constitution. National Campaign will also launch that focus on the fundamental duties of an important feature of the Constitution.
The ‘Preamble’ shall be read out in the Civil Secretariat at 11:00 AM which will be followed by people in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of article 370 and for the first time will celebrate “Constitution Day”. Even the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of the Departments and the Heads of all the Policy Formations shall undertake similar activity in their offices and ensure that in all the Subordinate offices ‘Preamble’ shall be read out on Constitution Day at 11:00 AM and pledge to the fundamental duties.
Events will be organized in New Delhi by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. At 11:00 AM mass reading of the Preamble will take place at Offices/ Establishments, PSUs, Private Organisations, Corporate bodies, etc. Several talks/Seminars are also organized on the Indian Constitution/ Duties. Extensive publicity of Mass Preamble Reading by the Ministry of I&B and State Public Relations Department will also be done.
Several campaigns are organized and pamphlets are distributed to make people aware of the meaning of the constitution.
- Various dramas and plays are organized.
- Seminars and lectures are also organized in the school.
- Social media campaign etc.
The day, November 26, 1946, was a proud moment for the young country. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly. In his speech before the adoption of the constitution had paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation.
Features of the Indian Constitution
When was the first time National Constitution Day or Constitution of India celebrated?
The BJP led Government in 2015 declared 26 November as Constitution Day by a gazette notification on 19 November. Earlier, this day was known as National Law Day, after a resolution in 1979 by the Supreme Court Bar Association.
How the Constitution of India came into being?
As we know that on 15 August 1947, India became independent and on 26 January 1950, we celebrate Republic Day because on this day the Constitution of India came into effect.
In 1934, the demand of the Constituent Assembly was made. Let us tell you that M.N. Roy, a communist party leader, was the first who mooted the idea. It was taken up by the Congress party and finally, in 1940, the demand was accepted by the British government. Indians are allowed to draft the Indian Constitution in the August offer.
On 9 December 1946, the Constituent Assembly for the first time met before independence. The first president of the Constituent Assembly was Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha. Further, on 29 August 1947, a Drafting Committee was constituted to prepare a Draft Constitution with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a Chairman. On 26 November 1949, the Committee had finished their work. On 24 January 1950, the process was completed when the members signed two handwritten copies of the document one each in Hindi and English.
The first meeting of the Assembly was in New Delhi on 9 December 1946 and last till 24 January 1950. During this time a total of 11 sessions were held and met for around 166 days. This is the period between the adoption and enforcement when thorough reading and translation from English to Hindi was done.
The Constituent Assembly of India
What is the Preamble to the Constitution of India?
“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 twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”
On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and became the law of the land.
The Constitution Day of India declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizen’s justice, equality and liberty and endeavors to promote fraternity. The words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ were added to the preamble during the emergency in 1976.
Let us tell you that, the Indian Constitution describes the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of the government institutions. It also explains fundamental rights, directive principles and the duties of citizens. India’s constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. It took around 2 years, 11 months and 17 days to complete the Constitution.
Therefore, National Constitution Day is celebrated on 26 November to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
By all means, the Constitution serves as a powerful emancipation proclamation ending centuries of discrimination, economic, political and social exclusion for millions of people.