Illustrations in the Indian Constitution

Illustrations in the Indian Constitution

Sub :Polity

Sec: Constitution

Context: On February 11, 2025, Parliament witnessed an uproar over the missing 22 illustrations in most copies of the Indian Constitution sold today.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized that the signed copy of the Constitution, which includes the illustrations, is the only authentic version and should be widely promulgated.

The Illustrations

• The Constitution was handwritten by calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
• The illustrations were conceived and implemented in Santiniketan by Nandalal Bose and his team.
• The images represent different periods in Indian history, from the Indus Valley civilization to the freedom struggle, including scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The diverse geography of India is also depicted, including deserts and the Himalayas.

Creation of Illustrations

• Bose was assigned the task in October 1949, just before the final Constituent Assembly session and the signing on November 26, 1949.
• Two copies of the Constitution (English and Hindi) bear these paintings and are preserved in a helium-filled case in the Parliament Library.
• Bose’s team included artists such as Kripal Singh Shekhawat, A Perumal, and Direndrakrishna Deb Burman.
• The Preamble page features intricate designs by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, while the National Emblem was sketched by Dinanath Bhargava.

Concept of the Artwork

• The text and images in the Constitution are not directly correlated.
• The illustrations were planned as a broad historical narrative rather than directly illustrating the legal content.
• Some planned portraits, like those of Rana Pratap and Ranjit Singh, were omitted due to space constraints.

Historical and Religious References

• Indus Valley Civilization: The Bull Seal is the first pictorial representation in Part I.
• Hinduism & Jainism:
  • A hermitage scene in Part II depicts male ascetics in meditation.
  • A serene depiction of Buddha appears in Part V.
  • Mahavir is represented in Part VI.
• Indian Temples & Architecture:
  • Sculptures from Mahabalipuram are illustrated in Part XIII.
• Ramayana & Mahabharata:
  • Part IV (Directive Principles) depicts Arjun and Krishna before the Mahabharata war.
  • Part III (Fundamental Rights) features Ram, Lakshman, and Sita returning from Lanka.

Illustrations of Indian Rulers

• Ashoka: Seated on an elephant propagating Buddhism (Part VII).
• Vikramaditya: Depicted with musicians and dancers (Part IX).
• Rani Lakshmibai & Tipu Sultan: Featured in Part XVI.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji & Guru Gobind Singh: Represented in Part XV.

The Freedom Struggle in the Illustrations

• Mahatma Gandhi:
  • Depicted leading the Dandi March.
  • Seen visiting riot-hit Noakhali, welcomed by women and peasants.
• Subhas Chandra Bose:
  • Featured in Part XIX, saluting the flag as members of Azad Hind Fauj march.
• Nehru: Originally planned to be included but was omitted.
• Rabindranath Tagore:
  • Three landscapes pay homage to him and his composition of the National Anthem.