The first copy of Bharatiya Samvidhan was hand-written by a reputed calligrapher PBN Raizada with a holder and Nib no. 303 bearing original endorsement by 299 members of the Constituent Assembly including Chairman of the Assembly Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Chairman of the Drafting Committee Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar without any honorarium.
With the intense desire for the Constitution to meaningfully represent entire cultural and civilizational ethos of Bharat, Nand Lal Bose and other outstanding artists of Santiniketan were engaged to work on sketches depicted in the original text. The artwork on the page of Preamble was completed by Beohar Ram Manohar Sinha. Another important artist associated with the project was Kripal Singh Shekhawat. Most of the pages are amply decorated with intricate patterns of borders, headers and backdrops with front and rear covers embossed in gold on leather guided by exquisite murals of Ajanta caves.
Pinnacle of the creative genius of NL Bose lies in depiction from nation’s glorious ancient history before the commencement of every part of the Constitution. Beginning with Vedic era to the civilization of Mohanjodaro, from Gupta and Maurya empires to Mughal phase culminating in War Of Freedom, Bose has depicted all in just 22 numbers in the miniature style of artwork spanning almost 5,000 years of recorded history of the sub-continent.
Vedic/Upanishadic era is depicted through a Gurukul, an era of epics through images of Ramayana and Mahabharata, vignettes from holy lives of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, scenes from royal courts of Emperor Asoka and Vikramaditya are embellished with magnificent sketches of Nataraja of the bronze tradition of Cholas. Great freedom fighters like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, Guru Govinda Singh and Virangana Laksmibai of Jhansi have been portrayed along with Mughal oppressors like Akbar and Tipu Sultan too. The natural beauty of the sub-continent is illustrated through Himalaya landscapes, deserts and oceans. Hence, original hand-crafted copy of Bharatiya Samvidhan is a compact digest of the rich history of this nation illustrated diagrammatically and lucidly.
The historic document, so live and vibrant, naturally engendered a bouquet of precepts and mandates that adorn every Constitutional body right below their respective emblem. Every such precept-mandate is a powerful guiding force for those manning the institution while working on the charter of responsibilities vested with the institution i.e. Dharma of the institution. Bharatiya Darsana accords the highest adoration to the pursuit of Dharma by all, every moment and everywhere. National Flag depicts Dharma-Chakra at its centre while Dharmacakra Pravartanaya is the mandate for Lok Sabha Speaker. Parliament House is an embodiment of Sanatana Darsana at several points of the entrance –
At door no. 1, it is Chhandogya Upanisad that reminds every visitor –
Loka Devarampatrarnu I
Pasyematvamvayamvera II
Let entrance to the welfare of all be open. Reveal to them path leading to self-realisation.
At the entrance of Central Hall, one contemplates over Panchatantra –
Ayam Nijaha Paroveti Gananalaghucetasam I
Udaracaritanam Tu Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam II
‘This is mine’, ‘That is your’s’ rise within confines of narrowed horizons. For liberal and enlightened ones, the entire world is one family.
On the Dome near Lift no. 1 through Mahabharata, members of an assembly are cautioned thus –
Na Sa Sabha Yatra Na Santi Vrddhaha, Vrddha Na Te Ye Na Vadanti Dharmam I
Dharma Sa No Yatra Na Satyamasti, Satyam Na Tat Yat Chhalamabhyupaiti II
There is no Assembly devoid of wise ones. Wise are not ones who oppose Dharma.
There is no Dharma without truth. Truth may never be deceitful.
On the Dome close to Lift no. 2, this injunction of Manusmriti (VIII / 13) ordains as under –
Sabha Va Na Pravestya, Vaktavyam Va Samanjasam I
Abruvan Vibruvan Vapi, Naro Bhavati Kilvisi II
Having entered into an Assembly Hall, one ought to speak facts otherwise refrain from entering. Declining to articulate or articulating mendacity begets one damnation.
Now we traverse through the well-nurtured ‘forest’ of Adhyatmika wisdom adorning various institutions and organisations to have a realistic perception, how deep, intense and extensive is their influence over our national psyche and how these guide and govern the nation. Due to constraints of space, only prominent ones have been listed hereinasunder –
Government of Bharata – II Satyameva Jayate II Rectitude alone triumphs.
Supreme Court – II Yato Dharmasya Tato Jayaha II Whence Dharma, thence conquest.
Lok Sabha – II Dharma Cakra Pravartanaya II Dharma roller moves uninterruptedly.
Doordarshana – II Satyama, Sivam Sundaram II Rectitude is divine and beautiful.
Akashavani – II Bahujanhitaya Bahujansukhaya II Benediction and contentment for all.
Bharatiya Army – II Seva Asmakama Dharmaha II Serving is our Dharma.
Bharatiya Air Force – II Nabhaha Sprasam Diptam II Embracing the sky with glory.
Bharatiya Navy – II Sana No Varunaha II May Varuna be amiable to us.
Bharatiya Coast Guard – II Vayam Raksamaha II We all defend.
Defence Research And Development Organisation – II Balasya Mulam Vijnanam II
At the root of strength, is knowledge.
Research And Analysis Wing – II Dharmo Raksati Raksitaha II Dharma protects its protector.
Intelligence Bureau – II Jagratam Aharnisam II Be awake day and night.
National Council Of Educational Research And Training – II Vidyaya Amrutamasnute II
Wisdom imparts immortality.
Similarly, all educational and other institutions across the nation too, have their mission vividly stated in Samskrita Sloka-s.
Foreign Governments viz. Governments of Nepal and Indonesia too, have Samskrita Sloka-s and all their other institutions.
These Adhyatmik verticals constitute core or Idea of Bharat that have been flowing in all arteries and veins of the nation eternally. Entire ethos had and has been based on direct personal experiences of Rsi-s and Maharsi-s who never imposed their thoughts / revelations on others. They rather, inspired others to formulate their own goals, paths to attain the goals before contributing to the ever burgeoning pool of wisdom. These are the very sacrosanct ideals that governed the nation of Bharat even before Dr. Ambedkar’s Constitution came into being in 1950. These are the very sacrosanct ideals that governed the Idea of Bharat irrespective of political boundaries of various Kingdoms being defined and re-defined. These have been the very ideals of the Idea of Bharat that ensured, entire community of Hindu-s always survived every calamity and catastrophe down the millennia of their existence across the sub-continent, then thrived. These are the very ideals that survived thousand year-long overseas oppression and a 60 year long dynastic rule under the subterfuge of ‘secularism’. The term Secularism was added to the Constitution in 1976 by the then PM Indira Gandhi who secured brute majority in Lok Sabha after BanglaDesh victory with the dubious slogan of ‘Garibi-Hatao’. It never existed in the agenda of Constituent Assembly and never deliberated upon in detail by anyone, anywhere. After being added to Preamble of the Constitution, it was never pursued, practised or invoked in the right spirit. Islam / Christianity was brazenly favoured and pampered, even at the expense of Hindu-s, so much so that PM Manmohan Singh unhesitatingly declared, Muslims enjoyed the first claim over national resources. PM Rajiva Gandhi amended the law to render SC judgement in Shah Bano case infructuous just to garner Islamic votes, Haj subsidy continued and burgeoned into hundreds of crores of taxpayer’s money, conversion-spree by Missionary-Satans continued unabated….all in the name of the absurdity of Secularism.
These ideals are sacrosanct and constitute lifeline of the nation. Any and every nefarious force whether Communism or Congressism surreptitiously attempting to desecrate core of the Idea of Bharatavarsha must be thwarted with maximum emphasis at our command. And finally, the Idea of Bharatavarsha precedes and overtakes the defunct Idea of India.
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