Tue Nov 26 02:35:32 UTC 2024: ## India’s Constitution: A Handwritten Masterpiece
**New Delhi, [Date]** – The creation of India’s Constitution involved a unique artistic endeavor, beyond the political and legislative processes. Following the completion of the Constitution’s text, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sought to add a special touch. He decided the document should be handwritten, broadcasting a call for experts in italic calligraphy.
Prem Behari Narain Raizada, a renowned calligrapher, responded to the call, offering his services without payment. He requested only that his name and that of his grandfather, Ram Prasad Saksena, be inscribed on each page. Nehru accepted his offer.
Raizada meticulously transcribed the 395 articles and 8 schedules of the Constitution onto durable parchment sheets over six months. He used 432 pages, resulting in a stunning original manuscript now housed in the Parliament Library in Delhi. A second calligrapher, Vasant Krishna Vaidya, created a Hindi version. Both the English and Hindi handwritten copies are preserved in helium-filled cases.
Adding another layer of artistry, Nandalal Bose and Ram Manohar Sinha of Santiniketan adorned each of the Constitution’s 22 parts with illustrations. These images depict symbols of India’s rich history, from ancient civilizations (Mohenjo-daro, Buddha, Mahavira) to the Mughal emperor Akbar, Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, Tipu Sultan, Rani Lakshmibai, and Gandhi’s Dandi March. The illustrations represent a visual tapestry of India’s past, culminating in the raising of the tricolour flag.
First Piper 