Indian Constitution & Hinduism

Indian Constitution & Hinduism
We are very much proud for the Indian Constitution and celebrating the Republic Day, but we never look through the Hindu Elements in Indian Constitution. Each part of the Constitution begins with the artistic picturization that traces our 5000-year-old history. The glorious history of the great India has been registered in the constitution of biggest democracy and oldest civilization of the world. Not only that it is an affidavit on Hinduism.
 
The original Indian Constitution, a hand-written document is essentially illustrating rich religious & cultural heritage of Hinduism. Important Parts of the constitution incorporated the photographs of Hindu deities such as Shri Rama, Shri Laxman, Ma Sita, Shri Krishna, Shri Shiva etc and historically important persons & monument works. The various photographs on the parts of the constitution are carefully selected and drawn on the original constitution signed by the members of Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The original of the book is kept in a special helium-filled case in the Library of the Parliament of India. The calligraphy in the book was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizda. It was illuminated by Nandalal Bose and other artists, published by Dehra Dun, and photolithographed at the Survey of India Offices.
 
Unfortunately, post first republic day, the various governments never highlighted this vision of our great makers of constitution and buried in the helium filled case and printed faulty constitutional copies disregarding very foundation of our republic. The copy of photolithographed original constitution of India is available on internet and anybody can verify the facts.
 
The purpose of this article is to highlight vision, mission and the depictions of various arts which have been part of the original constitution approved by the makers of constitution. The details are as follows:
 

1. The intricate gold pattern on the front and back cover itself borrow from the famous Ajanta murals.
2. Preamble – It contains pictorially traditional motifs of Hinduism such as Padm, Nandi, Airavata, Vyaghra, Ashwa, Hans and Mayur.
3. Part I - States and Union Territories – The first part starts with a popular Indus Valley seal-mark, the bull.
4. Part II – Citizenship - The part is represented by India’s Vedic Age. It reveals scene from Vedic Ashram (Gurukul).
5. Part III – First page of Fundamental Rights starts with photographs of Bhagwan Shri Rama along with Ma Sita & Brother Laxman (Scene from the Ramayana of the conquest of Lanka and recovery of Sita by Rama). Interestingly, this image of Ram was used for a verdict (Ram Janmbhoomi dispute) and the court thus declared Rama to be a constitutional entity.
6. Part IV - Directive Principles of State Policy – It includes scene from Mahabharata depicting Bhagwan Shri Krishna propounding Gita to Arjuna.
7. Part V - The Union – It contains the image of Buddha’s Enlightenment.
8. Part VI - The States in Part A of the First Schedule – It contains a scene from Bhagwan Mahavir's life.
9. Part VII - The States in Part B of the First Schedule – It has scene depicting the spread of Buddhism by Emperor Asoka in India and abroad.
10. Part VIII - The States in Part C of the First Schedule – A beautiful scene from Gupta Art is incorporated.
11. Part IX - The Territories in Part D of the First Schedule and other Territories - It includes a scene from Vikramaditya's Court.
12. Part X - The Scheduled and Tribal Areas - It contains a scene depicting Nalanda University.
13. Part XI - Relations between the Union and the States – It contains a scene of sculptures from Orissa.
14. Part XII - Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits – It depicts image of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva.
15. Part XIII - Trade, Commerce, and Intercourse within the territory of India – It has scene from Mahabalipuram sculptures (Bhagirath’s penance and the descent of Ganga).
16. Part XIV - Services under the Union and the States – It contains portrait of Akbar with Mughal Architecture.
17. Part XV - Elections – It portrays Shivaji and Guru Govind Singh.
18. Part XVI - Special Provisions relating to certain classes – It depicts Portraits of Tipu Sultan and Lakshmi Bai.
19. Part XVII - Official Language – It contains portrait the Mahatma Gandhiji's Dandi March.
20. Part XVIII - Emergency Provisions – The picture is on Mahatma Gandhiji’s tour in the riot affected areas of Naokhali.
21. Part XIX- Miscellaneous - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and other patriots trying to liberate India from outside India have been illustrated here.
22. Part XX - Amendment of the Constitution – The scene of the Himalayas is depicted here.
23. Part XXI - Temporary, and transitional provisions – It contains scene of the Desert.
24. Part XXII - Short title, commencement, and repeals – It picturises scene of the Ocean.

Hence, it can be realized that the original Indian Constitution is evidence of rich religious and cultural heritage of India.