Simone Lawson
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the country's longest written national constitution. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950, replacing the Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Government of India Act 1935. The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi. The calligraphy in the book was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, and the illumination was done by Nandalal Bose, known as the artist laureate of India, and his students from Kala Bhavan (Institute of Fine Arts), Visvabharati University.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Nandalal Bose |
| Artist's Team | Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, Dinanath Bhargava, Kripal Singh Shekhawat, A. Perumal, Vinayak Sivram Masoji, and other artists from Kala Bhavan (Institute of Fine Arts), Visvabharati University |
| Artist's Children | Biswarup Bose, Gauri Bhanja, and Jamuna Sen |
| Calligraphy | Prem Behari Narain Raizada |
| Commission | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Completion Year | 1954 |
| Time Taken | 4 years |
| Original Number of Illustrations | 22 |
| Categories | Mohenjodaro Period, Vedic Period, Epic Period, Mahajanpada and Nanda Period, Mauryan Period, Gupta Period, Medieval Period, Muslim Period, British Period, India’s Freedom Movement, Revolutionary movement for freedom, and Natural Features |
| First Translation | Odia language |
| First Translation Publication Date | 1 April 1981 |
| First Translation Published In | Bhubaneswar |
| First Translation Published By | Government of Odisha and the Union Government of India |
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What You'll Learn
- The illuminated Constitution of India was commissioned by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India
- The calligraphy was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, using a holder and a No. 303 nib
- The illumination was done by Nandalal Bose, known as the artist laureate of India, and his students
- The illustrations were categorised into twelve historical periods, including the Mohenjodaro, Vedic, and Epic periods
- The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi
The illuminated Constitution of India was commissioned by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, was in office for more than 16 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister. He was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889, and received his early education at home under private tutors. At the age of fifteen, he went to England and, after two years, joined Cambridge University, where he took his tripos in Natural Sciences. He was later called to the Bar from Inner Temple and returned to India in 1912, plunging straight into politics. He was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and the independence movement.
Nehru played a crucial role in India's journey towards independence and worked to establish the country as an important member of the international community. He is known for his neutralist (non-aligned) policies in foreign affairs. He was imprisoned multiple times for his role in the freedom struggle, including his famous Quit India resolution in 1942. After India gained independence in 1947, Nehru became the country's first prime minister and served until his death in 1964.
Under Nehru's leadership, the Congress party won a large majority in the first elections to Indian legislative bodies (National Parliament and State Assemblies) under the new constitution in 1952. As the first prime minister, he commissioned the illuminated Constitution of India, reflecting his commitment to establishing a strong and democratic nation governed by the rule of law.
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The calligraphy was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, using a holder and a No. 303 nib
The Constitution of India is a historic document that reflects the country's history, struggles, its leaders' vision, and its people's aspirations. It is the longest written national constitution in the world, containing 395 articles, 8 schedules, and a preamble. When the Constituent Assembly of India was drafting the constitution in the late 1940s, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, wanted the document to be handwritten to epitomise its spirit. For this task, he chose Prem Behari Narain Raizada, a master calligrapher born into a family of renowned calligraphers.
Raizada was born in December 1901 and began learning calligraphy at a young age from his grandfather, Ram Prasad Saxena, a scholar of English and Persian. He further refined his calligraphic skills at St. Stephen's College in Delhi. When asked to write the Constitution of India, Raizada refused any remuneration, asking only that his name be included on every page and his grandfather's name be added to the last page. This stipulation was honoured, and today, both names can be found in the document.
Over the course of six months, Raizada worked tirelessly in a room in the Constitution Hall of India (now known as the Constitution Club of India). He used 432 pen-holder nibs, sourced from England and Czechoslovakia, to inscribe each letter beautifully on the 251 pages of the manuscript. His flowing italic style of calligraphy, incorporating hundreds of nibs, resulted in a stunning final product. The completed manuscript weighed 3.75 kg (8.26 lbs) and is now preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, marking India's transition from a dominion of the British Crown to a sovereign, democratic republic. Raizada's exquisite calligraphy played a crucial role in bringing the constitution to life and ensuring that the document's appearance matched its significance. His work on the Constitution of India immortalised his name and that of his grandfather, leaving a lasting legacy in the country's history.
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The illumination was done by Nandalal Bose, known as the artist laureate of India, and his students
The original manuscript of the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26 January 1950, was illuminated by Nandalal Bose, known as the artist laureate of India, and his students. Bose was born in 1882 into a middle-class Bengali family in Haveli Kharagpur, in the Munger district of Bihar state. From an early age, he took an interest in modelling images and decorating Puja pandals. Despite his family's initial reluctance, he pursued his passion for art.
Bose's artistic style was deeply influenced by the murals of the Ajanta Caves, and he was part of an international circle of artists and writers seeking to revive classical Indian culture. His genius and original style were recognised by artists and critics alike, who felt that objective criticism was necessary for the development of painting and founded the Indian Society of Oriental Art. In 1907, Bose was the first recipient of a scholarship offered by this society.
Bose's artwork left a significant imprint on Indian art. In 1930, to mark Mahatma Gandhi's arrest for protesting the British tax on salt, he created a black-and-white linocut print of Gandhi walking with a staff. This iconic image became a symbol of the non-violence movement. He was also commissioned by Jawaharlal Nehru to sketch the emblems for the Government of India's awards, including the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Shri.
Along with his disciple Rammanohar, Bose embellished the original Constitution of India with his artistic talent. Today, the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi holds 7,000 of his works in its collection. Bose's contributions to Indian art are undeniable, and he is remembered as a pivotal figure in the history of modern Indian artistic expression.
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The illustrations were categorised into twelve historical periods, including the Mohenjodaro, Vedic, and Epic periods
The illustrations in the Indian Constitution were categorised into twelve historical periods, including the Mohenjodaro, Vedic, and Epic periods. These periods represent significant stages in India's rich history and cultural evolution.
Mohenjodaro, also known as the Indus Valley Civilisation, flourished between 2500 and 1700 BC. It was discovered by archaeologists in 1921-22 AD when they excavated the sites of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. This civilisation is considered one of the oldest in the world, with a complex and varied culture.
The Vedic period, which followed the decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation around 1800 BC, lasted from 1500 to 500 BC. It is characterised by the spread of the Aryan culture and the development of the Vedic form of the Aryan language in Northwestern India. The Vedic society was patriarchal and patrilineal, and their way of life was primarily pastoral. The Vedas, a collection of sacred texts composed during this time, became the foundation of Hinduism and played a crucial role in shaping Indian culture and human civilisation.
The Epic period, as the name suggests, is associated with India's renowned epic literature, such as the Mahabharata and the Gita. The battle described in the Mahabharata is believed to have inspired the Vedic tradition. This period witnessed the emergence of true cities and large states, as well as the development of complex social structures and religious movements.
These historical periods, captured in the illustrations of India's Constitution, showcase the country's ancient history, cultural evolution, and the development of its unique social and religious fabric.
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The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi
The Indian Constitution, which came into force on 26 January 1950, is the supreme legal document of India and the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. The original 1950 constitution is carefully preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
The process of producing the original constitution took nearly five years. The assembly's final session was convened on 24 January 1950, and each member signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose. Its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada. The constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India.
The Indian Constitution is written entirely in black ink, which oxidises quickly, and so it must be stored at a humidity level of roughly 50 grams per cubic metre to be preserved. Initially, the original copy of the Indian Constitution was kept wrapped in flannel cloth and stored with naphthalene balls. However, in 1994, it was decided that the original copy would be kept in a gas chamber at the library of Parliament House. This decision was made after an agreement between India's National Physical Laboratory and the Getty Institute of America, who built the gas chamber.
The Indian Constitution is kept safe inside a nitrogen-filled case in the library of the Parliament of India. The constitution is considered federal in nature and unitary in spirit. It has features of a federation, including a codified, supreme constitution; a three-tier governmental structure (central, state, and local); division of powers; bicameralism; and an independent judiciary.
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Frequently asked questions
Nandalal Bose, known as the artist laureate of India, illuminated the original Constitution of India.
Nandalal Bose led a team of artists from Kala Bhavan (Institute of Fine Arts), Visvabharati University, including his three children, and artists such as Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, Dinanath Bhargava, Kripal Singh Shekhawat, A. Perumal, and Vinayak Sivram Masoji.
The illuminated manuscript was commissioned under the direction of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
The illuminated manuscript of the Constitution of India took four years to complete.
The original Constitution of India is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Library of the Parliament of India in New Delhi.
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