Republic Day Special: Why was January 26 chosen for the implementation of the Indian Constitution; where is its original copy now?
The Indian Constitution is considered to be the largest written constitution in the world. The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. Since then, this day is celebrated every year as Republic Day. The Indian Constitution is not just a legal document but it symbolizes India's diversity, rich cultural heritage and democratic values. Let's know some interesting facts related to the Constitution.
Why was January 26 chosen for the implementation of the Constitution?
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. But, the date of January 26, 1950, was chosen for its implementation. The reason was that January 26, 1930, was declared as Purna Swaraj Day by the Indian National Congress. To commemorate this historic day, it was decided that the Constitution should be implemented on January 26 and India should be declared a democratic republic. The Indian Constitution had 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 8 Schedules.
Features of the Indian Constitution
- The original copy of the Indian Constitution is written on handmade paper.
- It was artistically decorated by the artists of Shanti Niketan.
- Each chapter has a unique artwork on the first page.
- Every page of the Constitution is beautifully framed with gold leaves, making it unique.
The process of drafting the Constitution
A 299-member Constituent Assembly was constituted to draft the Constitution. After 2 years, 11 months and 18 days of hard work, the constitution was drafted. The Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Preservation of the original copy of the constitution
Preserving the original copy of the constitution for a long time is challenging because it is handwritten and its papers are prepared specially. Wrapped in flannel cloth it was placed with naphthalene balls. The original copy of the Constitution is kept in a special chamber of nitrogen gas in the library of Parliament House. This chamber is prepared by scientific methods to protect it from moisture, temperature, and insects. The nitrogen gas chamber helps protect the constitution paper from oxidation and other chemical reactions.