Vijayapura: While the whole of India celebrated Constitution Day by reading the preamble and by delivering speeches, a group of over 500 people from different walks of life celebrated it by consuming different types of food, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, at Bara Kaman on Sunday.There were school students, women, transgenders, farmers, businessmen, homemakers, people from different religions and communities that had brought lunch boxes from their home.
Fr Teyol Machado, director of CNFE, told TOI that the Constitution Day was aimed to celebrate as a ‘living together day’. “We had people from slums, transgenders, construction workers, including 200 children. Competitions like pick and speech, drawing and fancy dress of professionals were arranged for children, while Devadasis performed folk songs. We often observe that students or parents refuse to accept food at government schools or anganawadis if cooks are from Dalit community. Since food is precious as it is produced by farmers, we had suggested people bring a lunch box of their choice. Many had brought meat here. We also respected the feelings of vegetarians. Participants had brought food more than they needed. Additional food was distributed to needy people like security guards, street vendors and beggars,” he explained.
Participants gathered at Ambedkar Circle in the morning and paid homage to the statue of Ambedkar. They recited the preamble of the Constitution and then moved in a procession to Bara Kaman, where activist Bharatkumar elaborated on the values of the Constitution and discussed it with participants. Advocate Fr Prashant Sequira emphasised ‘how to come together and become people of democracy.’ All participants raised the slogan of ‘Namma Samvidhan Namma Hakku’ (Our Constitution Our Right) on the occasion. Rajyotsav awardee journalist Rafi Bhandari was felicitated by participants. St Joseph Health Center provided free medicines in the health check-up camp organised as part of the celebration.
Veena, Shankravva, Salma and other participants shared that it was an occasion to know our country better.
“Irrespective of caste, creed, social and financial status, we spent a day here. The event instilled confidence to live together, which is the best provision of our great Constitution. There was no chair, hierarchy or any protocol and we sat on the ground to uphold the equality,” they stated.
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President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in the Supreme Court premises on the occasion of Constitution Day. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal paid their tributes to the father of the Indian Constitution folding hands and offering flowers to the over 7-feet tall sculpture. The unveiling was followed by plantation of saplings by President Murmu and CJI Chandrachud. Several judges of the top court attended the event.
India celebrates Samvidhan Divas, also known as Constitution Day, on November 26. It commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution in 1949, which came into effect in 1950. The day also marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the father of the Indian constitution. Previously known as Law Day, it was renamed to Constitution Day in 2015 to highlight the importance of a single governing document for all legal authorities in India. The drafting committee, led by BR Ambedkar, dedicated over 2 years and 11 months to complete this monumental task.
Courtesy: TOI
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