CONTENTS

1. Constitution Day
2. Guru Nanak

Constitution Day 2023

Context:

India celebrates Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, on November 26.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Constitution

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Constitution Day:
2. Interesting Facts about the Indian Constitution:

About Constitution Day:

• Date: Celebrated on November 26th annually.
• Significance: Marks the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, which came into force on January 26, 1950.
• Initiative: Instituted in 2015 to promote constitutional values among citizens.

Constituent Assembly (CA) of India:

• Formation: Established in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
• First Meeting: Held on December 9, 1946, with Dr. Sachhidanand Sinha as the Provisional President.
• Permanent Chairman: Rajendra Prasad elected on December 11, 1946.
• Duration: Took three years (1946-49) to complete the drafting process.
• Membership: Comprised 299 elected members from provincial legislative assemblies.
• Committees: Had 13 committees, including the drafting committee led by B.R. Ambedkar.
• Adoption: The Constitution was adopted in 1949, with 284 members signing it.

Interesting Facts about the Indian Constitution:

• Length: World’s longest constitution, with the original copy spanning 251 pages.
• Handwriting: Completely handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada, a master of calligraphic art.

• Design: Nand Lal Bose, a pioneer of modern Indian art, designed borders and adorned pages with art pieces.
• Original Manuscript: Written on parchment sheets measuring 16 x 22 inches, weighing 3.75 kg, and designed to last a thousand years.

Overall Impact:

• Cultural Heritage: Highlights the meticulous craftsmanship and artistic contributions to the creation of the Indian Constitution.
• Educational Initiative: Constitution Day serves as a platform to educate and instill constitutional values in the citizens of India.

Guru Nanak Jayati

Context:

The Prime Minister greeted people on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Relevance:

GS I- History

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
2.  5 teachings of Guru Nanak Ji

About Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

• The Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) was born in a village, Talwandi Rai Bhoe, near Lahore (it was renamed later as Nankana Sahib).
• The Guru Nanak Dev Ji initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of the religious denominations of his times.
• The Guru Nanak Dev Ji, also referred to as Baba Nanak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• His birth is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Katak Pooranmashi i.e October – November.
• His written compositions were included in the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh guru.
• This came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib after the additions made by the 10th Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708).
• In compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan showed a remarkable commitment to pluralism while retaining the unity of thought initiated by Guru Nanak Dev.
• He advocated Nirguna Bhakti.
• He firmly repudiated practices of religions around him like sacrifices, ritual baths, idol worship, austerities, and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
• He appointed Angad to succeed him as the Guru.
• He never wished to establish new religion, but after his death his followers consolidated his practices and distinguished from both Hindus and Muslims by calling themselves ‘Sikhs’.

 5 teachings of Guru Nanak Ji

The One God

• The Guru Nanak ji said “I am neither hindu nor Muslim, I am follower of God”, which actually spoke about his belief in one God. In Sikhism, the god is omnipresent, shapeless, timeless and sightless. (Nirankar, akar, alakh)

No Discrimination

• The Guru Nanak Ji was strongly against all artificially created divisions and all discriminations, both in word and deed.

Stay Away         

• The Guru Nanak ji asked his followers to shun five evils of Ego, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust and adopting five virtues Truth, Compassion, Contentment, Discipline and Contemplation

Importance of Guru

• The Guru Nanak Ji laid great emphasis on having the importance of Guru in one’s Life.

Sewa is the Key to Humanity

• As Said by Guru Nanak Ji “In the midst of this world, do Sewa and you shall be given a place of honor in the court of the Lord”.