The newly inaugurated Constitution Gallery in Prayagraj intertwines patriotism with faith, showcasing India’s democratic journey.
The “Samvidhan Vithika” offers visitors a glimpse into the making of India’s Constitution through rare photos, illustrations, and documents.
Opened during the Mahakumbh 2024 by President Draupadi Murmu, the gallery honors 75 years of India’s Constitution, emphasizing its democratic ideals amidst global unrest.
Of late our honourable president Mrs. Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the “Samvidhan Vithika”(Constitution Gallery) in Prayagraj during this Mahakumbh. This is a fine example of intertwining faith with patriotism. This gallery was opened for the common people after the inauguration. The entire process of the making of India’s constitution has been put on display with rare photographs, documents, illustrations for the easy perceivings of every Indian citizen and international guests.
Our Constitution recently completed 75 years of completion on 26 th November 2024. To commemorate this occasion celebrations all through the country were held. This included the recitation of the Preamble of the Constitution at various venues. This was a huge success to achieve in itself, see the present scenario of world unrest.
Let us discuss the word republic mentioned in the Constitution.
The meaning of the word republic is “the state in which supreme powers rest in the hands of the people and their elected representatives and also nominated persons. The system of hereditary hierarchy is not followed under any circumstances.”
The journey of modern India to become a republic began in ancient times. The documentation of it has guided historians from time-to-time.
If we break the word republic into re+public, it becomes, re(iteration) of public needs by the elected representative.
Ancient India Republic States
Vaishali, which is believed to be the first republic among all the ancient kingdoms of the world, was finally conquered by the monarch state of Magadh, which happened to be one of its neighbors. But, during the 6-7th century several oligarchic republics had emerged within the region of Himalayas and the lower course of the Ganga. Several other Indo-Aryan tribes namely the Licchavis, Malakas, Moriyas, Koliyas, and Sakayas. Beyond these the kingdoms like the Malavas were a tribe from present northwestern India i.e. Punjab. They declined Alexander’s invasion and formed an oligarchic republic. The Kunindas in the Kangra valley now present Himachal Pradesh. Yaudheyas in south-eastern Punjab.
The loss of Vaishali by the Magadha kingdom was a major jolt to the spread of republic sentiments in the ancient Indian landscape.
In the world’s longest epic Mahabharata in the Shanti Parva, the meaning of being a republic was explained. It said: A republic achieves power through the unity among the people. Its citizens gain prosperity. The destruction of a republic is possible only by internal conflicts between the people.
India has not just confronted wars to prohibit encroachment of its territories but also being a country of several religions, beliefs, political and social alignments, the internal challenges have been no less to pose threat to the republic praxis in our territories.
How did Independent India become a Republic
After British colonialism ended, India’s path to become a republic stumbled on the ditch of the burden of staying a part of the Commonwealth Nation. Our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru meticulously handled the situation. He convinced both the British government and the conference to continue as a Commonwealth nation despite being a sovereign republic nation. This began the journey of independent India as a republic.
With forwarding time several incidents happening at varied locus of our countries have kept challenging the republican beliefs which happens to be the heartbeat of our constitution.
Northeast India has been and is continuing to be under scrutiny of many separatist and jihadist militant groups. Not just the state administration but also the large number of Indian army has been deployed to bridle the wild situation.
The Naxalite-Maoist which began with another motive soon lost its way and got involved in the bloodshed of innocents.
The infamous gang-wars of Mumbai were no less a threat to the sanctity of republican mode of governance.
Normalcy in Kashmir is also a hard earned virtue. The latest removal of 370 act is simply the mature implementation of the status of the whole India being one and a republic in entirety.
These are merely few examples to postulate that India has struggled through the varied difficulties and found a path at the end. The Indian citizens have followed the path of kindness, compassion and denied the leaders and groups who tried to create differences based on caste, religion, economic-social status, language, gender to name a few.
Our Republic status gives us the freedom to forward those candidates towards national and state assemblies who can become our voice and give paramount importance to our upliftment.
India shall continue as a republic and will for as long as the human race continues on earth.
Constitution in Verses
Many times I’ve desired to write
upon an au courant entity. But beauty
has been a weakness since the time
I began picking flowers over ocher
pebbles. So when I read constitution
of India is the longest and also the
single that incorporates illustrations.
I thought long and deep how can a
thing be so near to perfection? A
book from which stems the key-points
of India’s governance. With the ambition
of welfare of all, it took 2 yrs 11 months
18 days to get its final shape. The oath
ceremonies, the righteous judicial judgements
what not it calls within its consideration. The
celebration of it put to purpose shall
