New Delhi, Jan 24 (.) Marking 76 years since members of the Constituent Assembly formally signed the Constitution of India, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday reflected on what he described as a historic moment that combined democratic vision with artistic excellence.
In a post on X, Ramesh noted that on this day in 1950, 264 members of the Constituent Assembly affixed their signatures to the Constitution, which had been adopted earlier on November 26, 1949. “They signed three copies-two of which were handwritten in English and Hindi-and carried 22 illustrations by artists from Shantiniketan, led by none other than Nandalal Bose himself,” he wrote.
Ramesh highlighted lesser-known artistic contributions that went into the making of the Constitution. He pointed out that the English calligraphy was done by Prem Behari Narayan Raizada, while the Hindi version was handwritten by Vasant K Vaidya.
The first page, he said, bore the national symbol designed by Dinanath Bhargava, who had reportedly spent months studying lions at the Kolkata Zoo at the insistence of Nandalal Bose “to ensure that the lions in the emblem looked exactly like the real lions.”
Beyond its legal and political significance, Ramesh underscored the Constitution’s cultural and artistic value. Citing the Lalit Kala Akademi, which was established in August 1954, he said the illustrated Constitution has been described as “a seminal art treatise that navigates India’s multi-layered history and celebrates the threads of unity in diversity.”
Describing the Constitution as “a charter for profound socio-economic transformation,” the Congress leader said its creation reflected not only the ideals of justice, liberty and equality, but also a conscious effort to root India’s founding document in its civilisational and artistic traditions.
Ramesh also recalled a poignant moment from that historic day, noting that the members of the Constituent Assembly sat together for a group photograph after signing the document. “It is one for the ages,” he wrote, calling it a lasting symbol of collective resolve and democratic aspiration at the birth of the Republic. . SKA .
