On 76th Anniversary of Constitution Day, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge greeted the nation by saying in an X post, “The Constitution is not merely a document for lawyers, but a way of life, and its spirit remains the same.” - Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar

We remember the invaluable contributions of all the great leaders of the Constituent Assembly.

Countless national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Azad, Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu and Babasaheb Ambedkar played a historic role in building a new India. Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on Constitution Day. Today, what we need most is to protect the fundamental principles of the Constitution – justice, equality, freedom, mutual brotherhood, secularism, and socialism. Today, on Constitution Day, we once again pledge to uphold democracy and the freedom of the Constitution for the unity and integrity of the country, for love and brotherhood, for harmony and goodwill.” Jai Hind!

In another X post Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi said,“The Constitution of India is not just a book; it is a sacred promise made to every citizen of this country. A promise that no matter what religion or caste one belongs to, what region one comes from, what language one speaks, whether one is poor or rich, one will receive equality, respect, and justice. The Constitution is the protective shield of the poor and the marginalized, their strength, and the voice of every citizen. As long as the Constitution is protected, the rights of every Indian are protected. Let us pledge that we will not allow any attack on the Constitution. It is my duty to protect it, and I will be the first to stand up against any attack on it. Heartiest greetings to all of you on Constitution Day. Jai Hind! Jai Constitution!

From the archives

On Saturday, November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly met at 10 AM with Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the Chair. Before formally putting the motion for the adoption of the draft Constitution of India that had been moved by Dr.Ambedkar the previous day to the vote, Dr.Rajendra Prasad made his remarks. In his speech explaining the background to and highlights of the Draft that was soon to be adopted, Dr. Rajendra Prasad recalled:

“The method which the Constituent Assembly adopted in connection with the Constitution was first to lay down its “terms of reference” as it were in the form of an Objectives Resolution which was moved by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (on Dec 13 1946) in an inspiring speech and which constitutes now the Preamble to our Constitution. It then proceeded to appoint a number of committees to deal with different aspects of the Constitutional problem. Dr. Ambedkar mentioned the names of these Committees. Several of these had as their Chairman Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru or Sardar Patel to whom thus goes the credit for the fundamentals of our Constitution......”

Dr. Rajendra Prasad ended his speech thus: “....I have realizedas nobody else could have, with what zeal and devotion the members of the Drafting Committee and especially it’s Chairman Dr. Ambedkar, in spite of his indifferent health, have worked. We could never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman. He has not only justified his selection but has added lustre to the work he has done....”

Just as the Constituent Assembly was adopting the Constitution, Governor- General of India C. Rajagopalachari was in Guwahati replying to the address of welcome from the people of Assam. In the course of his brief remarks, Rajaji reminisced warmly:

“Dr. Ambedkar’s leading part in steering, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, the Constitution of Independent India is the greatest triumph of non-violence...Regarding this entrustment of responsibility to Dr. Ambedkar to the end of my days I shall proudly cherish the memory of my own initiative in the matter when I was not Governor-General, which received the most generous and most large-hearted and immediate acceptance by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel...”

This is all part of the history of Constitution making in which the RSS had no role whatsoever. In fact its role after the Constitution was adopted was to attack and undermine it, a role taken forward by the present PM and HM who have been subverting Constitutional principles, provisions and practices in a calculated manner.