Page 58 - EW-June-2025

Eyewitness

CONSTITUTION MUSEUM & THE RIGHTS & FREEDOMS ACADEMY
MONUMENTAL ENDURING TRIBUTE

Ephemeral celebrations and tributes to mark the platinum jubilee of
adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, will soon fade
from public memory. However the Constitution Museum, a monumental
tribute set in bricks-n-mortar, established on the campus of the O.P. Jindal
Global University, Sonipat, is likely to endure

Summiya Yasmeen

fter India wrested its independence from because it conferred the right of equality (Article 14) and
imperial Great Britain in 1947, a specially iron-clad Fundamental Rights (Part III) upon all citizens.
convened Constituent Assembly expended After extensive and detailed debate the Constitution
almost three years discussing, debating of India was formally adopted by the Constituent As-
Aand drafting an elaborate new Constitution sembly on November 26, 1949 (Constitution Day) and
of India. Comprising 146,385 words, 22 parts and 395 promulgated on January 26, 1950 (Republic Day). At
Articles, the Constitution of India, which drew heavily that time, there was widespread scepticism within the
from the British, French and American constitutions, was intelligentsia about the Constitution which balances the
unprecedented inasmuch as it adopted universal fran- rights, duties and is the governance charter of an un-
chise for all adult citizens — without gender, education precedentedly heterogeneous population, and the new
or property qualifications — ab initio. It was unique also Republic of India surviving as a constitutional democracy

58 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2025