Calligraphed Constitution
Also called: Prem Behari Narain Raizada · Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The original copy of the Indian Constitution was not printed. It was written by hand in beautiful flowing letters, an art called calligraphy. The English text was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada in an italic (slanting) style. Artists from Santiniketan, led by Nandalal Bose, decorated its pages with paintings. This made the Constitution both a legal document and a work of Indian art.
Example
Nandalal Bose's team painted scenes from India's long history in the borders and pages. These include the bull seal of Mohenjo-daro, scenes from the Ramayana, the Buddha, Akbar, Shivaji and Gandhi's Dandi March. Members of the Constituent Assembly signed this handwritten copy.
Don't confuse with
- Constituent Assembly Debates (CAD): the printed record of the discussions in the Assembly, in eleven volumes. The calligraphed Constitution is the final handwritten text of the Constitution itself.
Related concepts
- Universal adult franchise
- Indian secularism
- Right to freedom of religion
- Cultural and educational rights
- Right to equality
- Hindu Code Bill
- Constituent Assembly Debates
- Constitution of India
- Adoption of the Constitution 1949
- National anthem and national song adoption