Crafting India's Constitution: Role of Drafting Committee

Drafting Committee's Role in Crafting the Constitution of India

Central to the monumental task of shaping India's democratic identity, the Drafting Committee emerged as the cornerstone among all committees of the Constituent Assembly. Established on August 29, 1947, this committee bore the immense responsibility of composing a comprehensive draft for the new constitution. A distinguished assembly of minds, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as Chairman, N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Dr. K.M. Munshi, Syed Mohammad Saadullah, N. Madhava Rau (He replaced B.L. Mitter who resigned due to ill health), and T.T. Krishnamachari (He replaced D.P. Khaitan who died in 1948), tirelessly convened to architect the future. Marrying the proposals of various committees, the first draft of the Constitution of India materialized in February 1948.

In an intriguing confluence of democracy and dialogue, the draft was presented to the people, who were granted eight months to scrutinize, critique, and propose amendments. Responding to public discourse, the Drafting Committee authored a second draft, published in October 1948. Remarkably, this pivotal committee, despite the complexity of its task, concluded its deliberations in less than six months, convening for a mere 141 days. Ultimately, the Indian Constitution was meticulously fashioned by the Constituent Assembly over a span of 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.

Enacting the Constitution of India: A Historic Moment

As the architectural masterpiece reached its final form, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar presented the definitive draft of the Constitution in the Assembly on November 4, 1948, marking the first reading. What ensued was a five-day period of rigorous general discussions that extended until November 9, 1948.

Subsequently, the second reading unfolded, engrossing the Assembly in a clause-by-clause consideration commencing on November 15, 1948, and culminating on October 17, 1949. Within this meticulous examination, a staggering 7,653 amendments were proposed, with 2,473 substantively debated by the Assembly.

The culmination arrived with the third reading on November 14, 1949, where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar moved the momentous motion, "the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed." On November 26, 1949, the motion on the Draft Constitution was triumphantly declared as passed. Signifying an extraordinary chapter in history, 284 members of the assembly, out of a total 299, assembled to affix their signatures to the Constitution, reflecting their collective dedication to shaping the nation's destiny.

This very date stands immortalized in the Preamble, symbolizing the people of India, acting through the Constituent Assembly, adopting, enacting, and granting themselves the cherished Constitution. The adoption of the Constitution on November 26, 1949, infused life into a profound document boasting a Preamble, 359 articles, and 8 schedules. It's noteworthy that the Preamble was enshrined after the Constitution was entirely enacted.

The crescendo of this monumental journey reached its zenith on January 26, 1950, a day indelibly etched in history as the day the Constitution came into effect, inaugurating a new era. The Republic Day, as we celebrate it today, magnificently commemorates the embodiment of democracy, justice, and the will of a nation in the Constitution of India.

Amidst the tapestry of constitutional provisions, it's intriguing to note that certain aspects of the Constitution, encompassing citizenship, elections, provisional parliament, temporary and transitional provisions, and short titles articulated within Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 366, 367, 379, 380, 388, 391, 392, and 393, were set into motion on November 26, 1949 itself. This significant initiation marked the commencement of a journey that would culminate on January 26, 1950, a date enshrined within the Constitution as its 'date of commencement'. Notably, this specific date, January 26, carries historical significance, as it was on this day in 1930 that the "Purna Swaraj Day" was commemorated, following the resolution of the Lahore Session (December 1929) of the INC.

As the Constitution unfurled its wings, it not only signaled the dawn of a new era but also heralded the close of earlier chapters. With its commencement, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 and the Government of India Act of 1935, along with all amendments and supplements to the latter, found themselves relegated to history's pages. Notably, the Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act 1949 retained its relevance, continuing its presence on the legislative landscape.