CMRFA 27 October
CMRFA 27 October
CONSTITUTIONAL
H E R I TA G E
The Constitution Museum & the Rights and Freedoms
Academy, a Jindal Global University initiative, is an attempt to
delve into the cornerstone of India's democracy and the
fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined within it.
Crafted from stone and bronze, the piece symbolises India’s cultural evolution, from
the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. Architecture serves as a vital medium for expressing
cultural heritage, as seen in historical monuments that reflect both material and
spiritual lifestyles. The sculpture features recognisable cultural buildings that
transcend religious symbols. Notable elements include the Charkha, which represents
self-reliance during India’s struggle for independence, and the Great Ashoka Chakra,
symbolising the philosophical cycle of ancient India. The lower section of the sculpture
resembles a gate, reminiscent of 'Chumadu Thaangi', a traditional resting place for
travellers in Kerala.
Insaaf Ki Devi
Insaaf ki Dev, crafted from scrap metal, is a metal sculpture symbolising justice. The
installation portrays a blindfolded woman holding scales, a powerful emblem of
impartiality in Indian law. The blindfold signifies objectivity, free from bias or
prejudice, while the scales represent balanced judgement and equity. Through its
rugged materials and form, the piece pays homage to the ideals of the Constitution,
reflecting the resilience and fairness embedded in India's justice system.
Triad of Unity features an intricately detailed form of three lions, their paws
connected at the center, forming a Y-like shape. This composition pays
homage to the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the revered national emblem of India,
subtly linking the sculpture to the principles of unity, justice, and sovereignty
enshrined in the Constitution of India. The sculpture’s tripartite structure,
combined with its choice of materials, serves as both a tribute to the
historical significance of the Lion Capital and a contemporary reinterpretation
of its themes.
Intricately crafted using scrap metal, this piece presents a striking large-scale
depiction of the map of India. The Constitution’s principles of justice, liberty,
equality, and fraternity, deeply resonate with the artwork’s message of
inclusivity and harmony. The piece not only maps the geographical contours
of India but also traces the contours of its social fabric, emphasising that like
its diverse populace, every piece of scrap metal contributes to the rich
tapestry that is India.
The Frame
THE
THE MAKER’S FREEDOM’S
CONSTITUTION:
A KALEIDOSCOPE
G A L L E RY JOURNEY
This gallery is designed to provide This gallery takes visitors on a This gallery invites visitors to
a deep and engaging exploration journey through the story of how reflect on the significance of the
of the Constitution's essential India’s founding document came Indian Constitution, its role in
elements and key provisions that to be, paying tribute to the safeguarding citizen’s rights. This
every citizen should know. The visionary leaders, thinkers, and gallery aims to educate, engage,
aim is to make the Constitution advocates who dedicated and inspire visitors through
both accessible and relevant, themselves to crafting a various mediums, emphasising
demonstrating how its values and Constitution that would guide the the rights and freedoms which are
ideals have shaped the nation nation into an era of essential for all citizens to lead a
independence and democracy life with dignity.
THE CONSTITUTION: A KALEIDOSCOPE
GROUND FLOOR
GROUND
FLOOR PL AN
G AT E WAY T O T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N M U S E U M
The constitution enshrines timeless values that
remain our guiding principles. Each page comes
with hand drawn borders, some more ornate
than others. It is as though these borders
protect, preserve and treasure the words they
hold within them. The Preamble is held within
one such ornate border. This border consisting of
trellises of flowers, birds, animals and pattern Wolf is a Jaipur based
blocks then seems like a portal which leads you practice/co-creative engaged in
into the constitution. The Preamble is the entry- the pursuit of Aesthetics. Led by
point and so this idea of the border which Ritu and Surya Singh, whose
enshrines it becomes the doorway to access the entire art practice is based on
rest of the constitution or simply to delve deeper working with scrap, discards,
within its structure. and waste materials. They
dream up spaces connected to
“We the people of India” are the first words, the earth and engage in
addressing the nation as one people, as a force, storytelling through ephemeral
united as one. The artwork, Portal, is imagined experiences inspired from our
as a doorway replicating the border of the own lands. Public shows that are
preamble which one can walk through to enter made of intricate and large
and experience the constitution. Over the iron installations, all coming together
framework , the flower trellises will be made to tell a story based on social
using stainless steel scrap material from a metal issues they want to highlight.
factory. The animal motif on the corners will be
created by filling the shape with scrap brass
COPY OF THE
ORIGINAL
CONSTITUTION
AT T H E H E A RT
OF THE MUSEUM
THE HANDWRITTEN CONSTITUTION COPY
The artwork spans approximately 320 metres of layered fabric, representing the
multiplicity of identities that coexist within India. Through embroidery, delicate textures
emerge from the fabric, much like the intricate connections between people, places, and
histories. Gandhi’s philosophy of compassion, honesty, and non-violence acts as the
guiding motif, woven into the very fabric of this piece, reminding us of his unparalleled
contribution to building a nation rooted in ideology and harmony.
The forms of this art installation depict the mellifluous movement and
melding of the sounds of India’s numerous languages, all weaving and
intertwining together to create the vibrant tapestry of our motherland with
780 metres of fabric and 22 pleated-folded panels. The artwork depicts the
pages of the Constitution - with text meticulously inscribed in various Indian
languages. Floating above us like the fragrance of incense in air, it invites
viewers to collectively look up and reflect on the guiding principles of the
Constitution. The colours of this installation and its pleated forms are
derived from the original drawings and paintings of the first Constitution
document - created by Nandalal Bose and his team of artists from
Santiniketan. Above all, the installation invites everyone to inhabit space
together, in mutual respect and veneration, each strand having its place,
together completing the artwork - widening our comprehension of all our
differences, and understanding that the masterful art that makes India what
it is - becomes incomplete if even one strand is removed from this
composition.
H A N D PA I N T E D
MURAL BELOW
THE MEZZANINE
CHILDREN’S
CORNER
For younger visitors, the children’s
corner features interactive
installations, animation videos,
quizzes, and graphic pamphlets
that make complex concepts both
accessible and engaging. Through
these experiences, we aim to ensure
that even the youngest minds grasp
the importance of the Constitution.
I L LU S T R AT E D PA N E L S &
D I G I TA L PA M P H L E T S
Digital pamphlets on various aspects of the Constitution to take
home.
• The Preamble
• Fundamental Rights
• Separation of Powers
• Fundamental Duties
• Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
⚬ Federalism
⚬ Parliamentary form of government
⚬ Executive
⚬ Legislature
⚬ Judiciary
⚬ Doctrine of Basic Structure
HIGHLIGHTING THE WOMEN OF
T H E C O N S T I T U E N T A S S E M B LY
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
CONSTITUTION
DEMYSTIFIED
K N O W YO U R
CONSTITUTION!
By examining the intricacies of the Constitution, we hope to
foster a renewed appreciation for this document that has LOCAL ADMINISTRATION: THE PANCHAYATS, THE
steered India towards progress and prosperity. MUNICIPALITIES & THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
“Constitution is not a mere lawyers’ document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of
Age.”
- B.R. Ambedkar
“It will warm the heart of many a woman to know that free India will mean not only equality of status
but equality of opportunity.”
- Hansa Mehta
Constituent Assembly Debates, 19 December
1946
“The Constitution is not an ephemeral legal document embodying a set of legal rules for the passing
hour. It sets out principles for an expanding future and is intended to endure for ages to come and
consequently to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.”
- Supreme Court of India
M. Nagaraj & Ors v. Union of India & Ors
“We have given careful consideration to the argument that certain basic features of our Constitution cannot be
amended under Article 368 and have come to, the conclusion that no limitations can be and should be implied upon
the power of amendment under Article 368. One reason for coming to this conclusion is that if we were to accept
that certain basic features of the Constitution cannot be amended under Article 368, it will lead to the position that
any amendment made to any Article of the Constitution would be liable to challenge before courts on the ground
that it amounts to amendment of a basic feature.”
“When we speak of the 'abrogation' or 'repeal' of the Constitution, we do not refer to any form but to substance. If one
or more of the basic features of the Constitution are taken away, to that extent the Constitution is abrogated or
repealed. If all the basic features of the Constitution are repealed and some other provisions inconsistent with those
features are incorporated, it cannot still remain the Constitution referred to in Article 368. The personality of the
Constitution must remain unchanged.”
- Supreme Court of India in Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala, 1973
While the I. C. Golaknath v. State of Punjab judgement recognized that the Parliament would need a
“catalogue of basic features” to make amendments under Article 368, the Kesavananda Bharati
Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala defined the doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution,
balancing the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution.
LANDMARK
CASES
I M P O RTA N T A M E N D M E N T S
The 16th Amendment (1963) The 24th Amendment (1971) The 52nd Amendment
(1985)
Empowered the states to restrict the Reaffirmed the Parliament's authority to
rights to freedom of speech and amend any part of the Constitution, Introduced the Anti-Defection
expression and peaceful assembly in the including fundamental rights. This Law to prevent elected
interest of the sovereignty and integrity amendment was a response to the representatives from switching
of India. The amendment also required Supreme Court's Golaknath case verdict, parties. This amendment was
candidates for legislative bodies to take which had previously restricted required to maintain the
an oath affirming their allegiance to the Parliament's power to alter fundamental sanctity of electoral
Constitution and the principles of rights. It made it obligatory for the mandates.
sovereignty and integrity. This President to give assent to Constitutional
amendment was important for Amendment Bills passed by Parliament.
safeguarding national unity and stability This amendment clarified the extent of
during a period of regional and political Parliament's amending powers, asserting
challenges. legislative supremacy in constitutional
changes.
I N S P I R E D A RT W O R K S - I N T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N
I N S P I R E D A RT W O R K S - B A S E D O N T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N
A stone mural by Sangam Vankhade that embodies the essence of unity in diversity, a
cornerstone of our nation's ethos, by utilizing a variety of colored stones, each
representing the diverse fabric of Indian society. Drawing inspiration from the exquisite
artwork of Shri Nandalal Bose, particularly the motif of the ‘Tree of Life’, it serves as a
profound symbol of growth, interconnectedness, and the nurturing spirit of the Indian
Constitution. This tree, much like the Constitution, stands as a powerful emblem of
strength, resilience, and inclusivity.
The Fabric
Many perspectives make a whole. Many colours make a rainbow. Many
identities make India.
Unread Sentences
Reference video:
Cabinet Mission Plan
The Indian
lays down the Constituent
Mahatma Gandhi's National Congress Cripps Mission to
composition and Assembly of
Call for Swaraj demands a India
structure of the Undivided India
Constituent
Constituent Formed
Assembly
Assembly
&
L I T E R AT U R E WA L L
AAPKA
ADHIKAAR
• Dynamic archive
• Founders of the Constitution and their ideas on • Idea of Secularism in the Indian context, religious freedom
fundamental rights in India and changes over 75 years
• Objectives with which the founding fathers framed • Constitutional remedies available for Indian citizens; impact
the Constitution of public interest litigation and writ petitions on social
justice in India
• Important markers of the Indian Constitution
• Current State of Constitutional Law in India in upholding the
• Doctrine of the basic structure of Constitution rule of law and protecting constitutional values
• Constitution as a living document, changes in the • The subject of human rights and its understanding through
Constitution in these 75 years and its impact the Preamble
• Principles of liberty, fraternity and the • Evolution of the Constitution to protect the rights of women
Constitutional provisions in enabling citizens
• Comparison of the Indian Constitution with Constitutions of
• Democracy and separation of powers among other democracies
Executive, Legislature and Judiciary
• Landmark constitutional cases which changed the • Mechanisms for judicial accountability and
course of our democracy transparency
• The need for judicial reforms in the country and • Defence of civil liberties and the balance between law
accessibility of the Indian judicial system enforcement and Constitutional rights
• Constitutional expectations for freedom of speech and • Evolution of individual rights with respect to that of
expression in India and legal protections for it freedoms given by the state
• Laws for the protection of minorities in the country • Role of technology and its impact on the evolution of
our rights and freedoms
• Fundamental rights, civil liberties and constitutional law;
Supreme Court judgments related to civil liberties and • Indian legal system in the next decade driven by
human rights technological advancements, legal education, judicial
reforms; shape of the legal industry in India
• Access to justice; Legal reforms required to protect
women’s rights, personal laws, and the intersection of • Concept of dual constitution – the civil and the
gender and law in India military
T R I B U T E T O E X P E RT S
IT HAPPENS
O N LY I N I N D I A !
Representational Image
AAJ KE
SAMACHAR
Aaj Ke Samachar is an interactive experience featuring a vintage radio setup
designed to transport users through the decades of constitutional history in India.
The installation allows users to select a decade between the 1920s and 2020s. It
allows users to turn the knob to a specific decade and hear the radio broadcast
of the significant events and changes of that period in either English or Hindi.
An interactive physical
installation where visitors can
test their knowledge about their
Fundamental Rights and Duties.
IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCE
The visitor can Immerse
themselves in the sights and
sounds of pre-independence
India, through 360 degree visual
spectacle. Through cutting-edge
technology and multimedia
storytelling, our exhibit unfolds
the chronological tapestry of
events leading to the drafting of
the Indian Constitution.
Reference video
SAMVIDHAA
N
T HEA
Screening TR
of the E
“Samvidhaan”
TV Series, which is based on the
making of the Constitution of
India, directed by Shyam
Benegal.
Representational Images
Image
TIMELINE
75 YEAR
JOURNEY
A combination of
graphics and screens,
timeline depicting the
evolution of the
Constitution of India,
since its adoption.
VIDEO
FEEDBACK
KIOSK
BALCONY
SCULPTURE
Representational image
1.National Archives of India
2.Parliament Library and Museum
3.Prasar Bharati
4.Photo Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
5.India Photo Archive Foundation
6.Sansad TV
INSTITUTIONS 7.Prime Ministers Museum and Library
8.Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
C O N TA C T E D 9.Department of Delhi Archives
10.Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
FOR 11.British Library
12.The National Archives, UK
A RC H I VA L 13. Chatham House, Royal Institute of International Affairs
14. London University: London School of Economics, The Women's Library
CONTENT 15.Labour History Archive and Study Centre (People's History Museum,
UK)
16. Plymouth Archives, The Box
17. National Records of Scotland (formerly National Archives of Scotland)
• The National Cultural Audiovisual • Directory Of Archives
Archives • PIB Archives (1947-2001)
• Ideas Of India • Parliament Digital Library
• South Asian Open Archives Print • People's Archive Of Rural India (PARI)
D I G I TA L • Library of Congress (South-Asian) • South Asian Literary Recordings Project
• Tasveer Ghar • Internet Archive : TOI
D ATA B A S E S • Indian Memory Project • DD Prasar Bharti
• Punjab Digital Library • Prime minister Museum & Library
BEING USED • Asia Art Archive • Constitution Of India
• Granthapura • New York Times
FOR • British Newspaper Archive : Times of india • Centre for Research Libraries
• Ministry of IB, Publication department : • South Asian American Digital Archive
R E S E A RC H Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi • The Caravan
• Wilson Centre : Digital Archive (India) • Abhilekh Patal
• Indian Labour Archive • BJP library
• National Digital Library of India
T H A N K YO U !