Constitution Day (India): Difference between revisions

'''Constitution Day''' (or '''Samvidhan Divas'''), also known as '''National Law Day''', is celebrated in [[India]] on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the [[Constitution of India]]. On 26 November 1949, the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] adopted to the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.<ref name=Notification>{{cite web|title=Government of India formally notifies November 26 as Constitution Day|url=http://onelawstreet.com/2015/11/3251/|website=onelawstreet.com|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120211948/http://onelawstreet.com/2015/11/3251/|archive-date=20 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. The Prime Minister of India [[Narendra Modi]] made the declaration on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of the [[B. R. Ambedkar]]'s [[Statue of Equality]] memorial in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt. to observe November 26 as Constitution Day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/live-pm-modi-at-mumbai-lays-foundation-for-fourth-terminal-at-jnpt/article7749798.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=20 November 2015|date=11 October 2015}}</ref> The year of 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, who had chaired the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly and played a pivotal role in the drafting of the constitution.<ref name=Notification /> Previously this day was celebrated as Law Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Law Day Speech|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/speeches/lawdayspeech.pdf|publisher=Supreme Court of India|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223150459/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/speeches/lawdayspeech.pdf|archive-date=23 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

26 November was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.<ref name=IT>{{cite news|title=November 26 to be observed as Constitution Day: Facts on the Constitution of India|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/constitution-of-india/1/496659.html|access-date=20 November 2015|work=India Today|date=12 October 2015}}</ref>

Since 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary year of [[B. R. Ambedkar]] (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), who is known as the father of the Indian constitution, the government decided in May 2015 to celebrate this year "in a big way".<ref>{{cite news|author=PTI |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/modi-government-to-observe-br-ambedkars-125th-birth-anniversary-in-a-big-way/articleshow/47481083.cms |title=Modi government to observe BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way|newspaper=The Economic Times  |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="ibnlive1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/government-to-observe-br-ambedkars-125th-birth-anniversary-in-a-big-way-999033.html |title=Government to observe BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way |publisher=IBNLive |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/government-to-observe-ambedkars-125th-birth-anniversary-in-a-big-way/ |title=Government to observe Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way |work=The Indian Express |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> A special committee chaired by [[ Prime Minister of India]] was announced for year-long celebrations. Various programmes will be held by various ministries and departments throughout the year to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.<ref name="ibnlive1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Shishir Sinha |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pm-to-head-panel-on-ambedkars-125th-birth-anniversary-celebrations/article7264363.ece |title=PM to head panel on Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations|work=Thehindubusinessline.com |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> As part of the celebrations while laying foundation stone for an Ambedkar memorial at the Indu Mills compounds in Mumbai in October 2015, the Prime Minister of India [[Narendra Modi]] announced that 26 November will be celebrated as "Constitution Day".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/nov-26-to-be-observed-as-samvidhan-divas-modi-115101100698_1.html |title=Nov 26 to be observed as 'Samvidhan Divas': Modi |work=Business Standard News |date= 11 October 2015|access-date=27 November 2015|last1=India |first1=Press Trust of }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/live-pm-modi-at-mumbai-lays-foundation-for-fourth-terminal-at-jnpt/article7749798.ece |title=Govt. to observe November 26 as Constitution Day |newspaper=The Hindu |date=11 October 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-lays-foundation-stone-of-ambedkar-memorial-in-mumbai-1230859 |title=PM Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone of Ambedkar Memorial in Mumbai |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=11 October 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/pm-narendra-modi-to-lay-foundation-stone-of-ambedkar-memorial-today/ |title=PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone of Ambedkar memorial today |work=The Indian Express |date=11 October 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> In November 2015, the government officially announced celebration of the day.<ref name="autogenerated2" />

The [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] directed all overseas Indian schools to celebrate 26 November as Constitution Day and directed embassies to translate the constitution into the local language of that nation and distribute it to various academies, libraries and faculties of [[Indology]]. The work of translating the Indian constitution into [[Arabic language|Arabic]] has been completed.<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/first-arabic-translation-indian-constitution-launched-egypt-1840665.html |title=First Arabic translation of Indian constitution launched in Egypt |publisher=Firstpost |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> Department of Sport arranged symbolic run named "Run for Equality".<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Mass-Run-Held-on-Constitution-Day/2015/11/27/article3148428.ece |title=Mass Run Held on Constitution Day |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> There was also a special session of [[Indian parliament]] on 26 November 2015 to give tribute to the constitution and Ambedkar. The [[Parliament House (India)|Parliament House]] complex was also illuminated on this occasion.<ref name="autogenerated2" />

[[Category:Constitution of India]]