National Law Day

In a bid to commemorate the adoption of Constitution of the independent India, 26th of November is celebrated as the Constitution Day of India. This year, it marks the 72nd anniversary of the historic event that marked the dawn of a new era back in 1949. The day, which is also known as Samvidhan Divas or National Law Day or National Constitution Day, also is celebrated to raise awareness about the Indian Constitution.

The government declared 26th November as the Constitution Day to acknowledge and respect the contribution of the framers and to enlighten people on the prominent values that the constitution accommodates. On this day in 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted and it came into effect on 26 January, 1950.

History of National Law Day

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India. It came into force on January 26, 1950. Constitution Day aims to bring awareness about the importance of the Constitution and Dr. B R Ambedkar. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee, is considered to be the chief architect of the Constitution of India. He is also called the Father of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India was drafted by the members of the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution is a set of written principles and precedents of the Government of India. It frames fundamental political principles, procedures, rights, directive principles, restrictions, and duties of the government and the citizens of the country. The Constitution of India declares the country a sovereign, secular, socialist, and democratic republic. It assures its citizen’s equality, liberty, and justice.

The preamble is a brief statement which records the aims and aspirations of the people of India. The Constitution of India reads: “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 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.”

From 1947 to 1950, India continued to use the legislation implemented when it was a dominion of Britain. In the meantime, the Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution of India, which would replace the Government of India Act, 1935, as the country’s fundamental governing document. The Constitution was drawn from several sources, while India’s needs and conditions were given paramount importance. B R Ambedkar studied the Constitutions of over 60 countries before drafting the Constitution of India. Now, various programs are held by ministries and departments throughout the year to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar across the country.

Importance

It’s a movement

On November 25, 1949, the day before the Constituent Assembly wound up its proceedings, BR Ambedkar made a moving speech. It ended with three warnings for the future. The first was regarding the place of popular protest in a democracy. “One must abandon the methods of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha,” he said. The second warning dealt with the unthinking submission to charismatic authority. “Bhakti in religion may be the road to salvation of a soul. But in politics, bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship,” Ambedkar said. His final warning was that Indians should not be content with political democracy as inequality and hierarchy were still embedded in Indian society. “If we continue to deny it (equality) for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril.”

It’s a learning

The Constitution of India is now understandable for every Indian, no matter what language or dialect they speak. The Ministry of External Affairs directed all overseas Indian schools to celebrate 26th November as Constitution Day and directed embassies to translate the constitution into the local language of that nation and distribute it to various academies, libraries, and faculties of Indology. There are actually, officially, over 22 languages spoken in India.

It’s a reminder

India, as a democratic nation, has actually outlined the rights of its citizens in the Constitution which should always be followed accordingly. Therefore, every citizen must know their rights, which is extremely important when it comes to voting for leaders and ministers in the country and states.

- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.