60 years of Constitution: Things you must know

On the 60th Republic Day of the nation these are the sixty facts that you should know about the constitution.

1. The first seeds of a republican nation were sowed at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress at the midnight of 31st December 1929 under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru. 2. In the Lahore Session it was decided that January 26, 1930 would be observed as the Purna Swaraj (complete Independence) Day. Hence later, this very day was chosen to bring the constitution into force. 3. The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. 4. It held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution. 5. 292 members were elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies; (ii) 93 members represented the Indian Princely States; and (iii) 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners` Provinces. 6. The total membership of the Assembly initially was 389. 7. As a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June, 1947, a separate Constituent Assembly was set up for Pakistan and representatives of some Provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly. As a result, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299. 8. On 13 December, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution that outlined the basics of the constitution. 9. Objective Resolution was unanimously adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. 10. Late in the evening of 14 August, 1947 the Assembly met in the Constitution Hall and at the stroke of midnight, took over as the Legislative Assembly of an Independent India. 11. On 29 August, 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution for India. 12. B N Rao was appointed the Constitutional Advisor of the Assembly. 13. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly took place of Dec 9, 1946 with Dr. Sachidanand Sinha as its interim President. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as its President n Dec 11, 1947. 14. The Assembly framing the Constitution.had 13 Committees. 15. The all-important Drafting Committee, which bore the responsibility of drafting the Constitutional document during the recess of the Constitutent Assembly, from July 1947 to September 1948, was formed on August 29, 1947. Its members were: 1. Dr. Bheemrao Ramji Ambedkar 2. N. Gopalaswami Ayyar 3. K.M. Munshi 4. Syyed Mohd. Saadulla 5. N.Madhav Rao 6. D.P.Khaitan (T Krishnamachari, after Kahitan’s Death in 1948) 16. While deliberating upon the draft Constitution, the Assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635 tabled. 17. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November, 1949 and the hon`ble members appended their signatures to it on 24 January, 1950. 18. In all, 284 members actually signed the Constitution. 19. On that day when the Constitution was being signed, it was drizzling outside and it was interpreted as a sign of a good omen. 20. The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January, 1950. 21. On that day, the Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in1952. 22. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, took oath as the first President of India at the Durbar Hall in the Government House and this was followed by the Presidential drive along a five-mile route to the Irwin Stadium, where he unfurled the National Flag. 23. With 395 Articles and eight Schedules, the Indian Constitution is the largest written constitution in the world. 24. It was this day in history in 1965 when Hindi was declared as the official language of India. 25. To mark the importance of this occasion, a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President`s House), along the Rajpath, past India Gate and on to the historic Red Fort. 26. The event begins with the Prime Minister of India laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, commemorating all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. 27. A 21 gun salute is presented, the President unfurls the National Flag and the National Anthem is played. This marks the beginning of the parade. 28. The President is accompanied by a notable foreign Head of State - who is the invited Chief Guest at the celebration. 29. The Parade begins with winners of gallantry awards passing the President in open jeeps. 30. President of India, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, takes the salute at the grand parade. 31. The Indian Military also showcases its latest acquisitions such as tanks, missiles, radars, etc. 32. Soon after, awards and medals of bravery are given by the President to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also to those civilians who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations. 33. After this, helicopters from the armed forces fly past the parade area showering rose petals on the audience. 34. The military parade is followed by a colourful cultural parade. India`s rich cultural heritage is depicted in the form of tableaus from various states. 35. Tableaus from various government department and ministries of India are also presented displaying their contribution towards the progress of the nation. 36. The most cheered section of the parade is when the children who have won National Bravery Awards ride past the dais on elephants. 37. School-children from all over the country also participate in the parade showcasing folk dances and singing to the tunes of patriotic songs. 38. The parade also includes displays of skilful motor-cycle rides, by the Armed Forces personnel. The most eagerly awaited part of the parade is the fly past, put on by the Indian Air Force. 39. The fly past marks the conclusion of the parade, when fighter planes of the IAF roar past the dais, symbolically saluting the President. 40. The Republic Day celebration is a three day extravaganza and post this celebration at India Gate. 41. On the 27th January, a Prime Minister`s Rally is held by a crème of N.C.C cadets displaying various breath-taking performances and drill. 42. All important Government Buildings are beautifully decorated with lights every evening from 26th to 29th. 43. Beating The Retreat officially denotes the end of Republic Day festivities 44. Beating the Retreat ceremony is conducted on the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. 45. The ceremony starts by the massed bands of the three services marching in unison, playing popular marching tunes. 46. The drummers also give a solo performance (known as the Drummer`s Call). 47. Followed by this the drummers play Abide With Me (which is also said to be Gandhi ji`s favourite). 48. This is followed by the bugle call for Retreat, the band master then marches to the President and requests permission to take the bands away, and informs that the closing ceremony is now complete. 49. The bands march back playing a popular martial tune Saare Jahan Se Achcha. 50. At exactly 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered, and the National Anthem is sung, bringing the Republic Day celebrations to a formal end. 51. Our constitution has a Preamble attached to it that highlights few fundamental values and guiding principles on which the Constitution of India is based. It serves as the guiding light for both, the Constitution as well as the judges who interpret the Constitution in its light. 52. Our constitution is often termed as a bag of borrowings. 53. Parliamentary form of government, single citizenship, Rule of law, institution of Speaker has been borrowed from the British Constitution. 54. Fundamental Rights, Federal structure of government, Power of Judicial Review and independence of the judiciary have been borrowed from the US. 55. We have taken the Directive Principles from the Irish constitution. 56. From French we have adopted the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. 57. A quasi-federal form of government and idea of Residual Powers have been taken from the Canadian constitution. 58. Idea of the Concurrent list has been taken from the Australian constitution. 59. Planning Commission, Five-Year Plans and Fundamental Duties have been derived from the constitution of Soviet Union. 60. There were 15 women in the Constituent Assembly. Compiled By Smita Mishra