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Orissa Review * January - 2007 Historical Significance of 26th January Balabhadra Ghadai The announcement of the appointment of a among those who suffered blows of police lathis. Statutory Commission under the Chairmanship of The lathi blows crippled G.B. Pant for life. Sir John Simon on 8th November 1927 for the The Congress session at Madras, which purpose of enquiry into the working of the was presided over by Dr M.A. Ansari, had Government of India Act. 1919 and to suggest passed a resolution which declared the attainment further reforms in the system of administration of complete independence as the goal of the came as a rude shock to the Indian people and Indian people. The resolution was moved by sparked off a wave of protest all over the country. Jawaharlal Nehru and supported by S. The committee arrived in India on 3rd February Satyamurty. 1928. On that day, the entire country observed a hartal. In the afternoon on that day, meetings were Meanwhile, an organisation called the held all over the country to condemn the Indian Independence league had been formed to appointment of the Commission and to declare press the demand for complete independence. In that the people of India would have nothing to do December 1928, the congress met at Calcutta with it. under the presidentship of Motilal Nehru. At this There was firing and demonstrations in session, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose Madras and Lathi charges at many places. The and many others pressed the congress to demand Commission faced massive protest complete Independence. The Congress, however, demonstrations and hartals wherever it went. The passed a resolution demanding Dominion Status. Central Legislative Assembly decided by a This meant less than complete independence. But majority that it would have nothing to do with the it was declared that if the Dominion status was commission. All over the country the cry of not granted within one year, the Congress would "Simon, go back" was raised. The Police resorted demand for complete independence and would to repressive measures. Thousands of people were launch a mass movement to achieve it. The Indian beaten up. It was during these demonstrations that Independence league continued to rally the people the great nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai was behind the demand for complete independence severely assaulted by the Police. He succumbed throughout 1929. The mood of the people to the injuries inflicted on him. In Lucknow, throughout the country had changed by the time Jawaharlal Nehru and Govind Ballav Panth were the Congress held its next a Annual session. 1 Orissa Review * January - 2007 The President of the session was Jawaharlal that if any Government deprives a people of these Nehru. This was an evidence of the influence on rights and oppress them, the people have a further the congress of the new leaders who had been right to altar it or to abolish it. The British demanding a more intense struggle against the Government in India has not only deprived the British Rule. Indian people of their freedom but has based itself As the one year ultimatum given to the on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined British Government to grant Dominion status to India economically, politically, culturally and India ended, Gandhiji's resolution on 31st spiritually. We believe therefore that India must December 1929 declared that the word sever the British connection and attain purna "Swarajya" in Article-I of the Congress Swaraj or complete Independence. They constitution shall mean complete independence. declared that it was" a crime against man and God It was passed. It asked all Congress men and to submit any longer to a rule that has caused this nationalists not to participate in election to the fourfold disaster to our country ««««" legislatures and to resign from legislatures. To It is significant to mention here that this day achieve this aim, it was decided to launch a Civil was observed as the Independence Day every Disobedience Movement. The congress also year as long as the British ruled India. Later, in decided that 26th January would be observed as order to perpetuate the memory of the great pledge the Independence Day all over the country every to the "PURNA SWARAJ DAY" 26th January year. 1950 was chosen to be the day of the On 20th January 1930, Independence Day commencement of our constitution and was was observed all over the country and in declared as Republic Day with Dr. Rajendra thousands of meetings, people took a pledge Prasad as its first President. which said, "We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have necessities of life, so that they may Shri Balabhadra Ghadai is the Principal of M.K.College, have full opportunities of growth. We believe also Khiching, Mayurbhanj. 33 OBSERVERS APPOINTED FOR PANCHAYAT POLLS The State Election Commission has appointed 33 expenditure observers for the three- tier Panchayat polls. Out the these, two have been kept reserve and the rest 31 have been allotted to different districts. As, for the first time, the SEC has imposed restrictions on expenditures of the candidates by fixing ceilings, it was necessary to appoint separate expenditure observers. 2 Orissa Review * January - 2007 First Historical Session of Indian Constituent Assembly Braja Paikray The first historical session of Indian Constitutent the first historical session of Constituent Assembly Assembly commenced on the 9th December was attended by the representatives of all castes, 1946, Monday, in the Constitution hall of New- communities and religions of India. Amongst the Delhi. Though the Constituent Assembly consisted 210 members who attended the first historical of 296 members, the first historical session was session of the Constitutent Assembly, there were attended by only 210 members. Attending this 155 high caste Hindus, 30 Schedule Caste session, Mr. K.M. Munshi, a prominent representatives, 5 Tribals, 5 Sikhs, 5 Indian intellectual of the then India, remarked, "A great Christians, 3 Anglo-Indians, 3 Parsis and 4 Muslim day for India has dawned. Indians are going to members. Though the Constituent Assembly had frame their own constitution, but there is 80 Muslim members out of total 296 members unhappiness everywhere." Observing the their attendance was very poor as because the discouraging political scenario of the country Mr. Muslim League had called upon the Muslim K.M. Munshi had expressed such views as members to boycott the first historical session of because the Muslim league had decided not to constituent Assembly. attend the aforesaid historical session of the The main duty and responsibility of the Constitutent Assembly. The rulers of different makers of Indian Constitution was to reflect and princely states were also not co-operating with represent the hopes, aspirations and dreams of the Congress leaders and the British Govt. had each caste, class and community of the country. no particular message regarding this historical Some people had opposed the method of session. The British Prime Minister Mr. Churchil nomination of members to the Constitutent added fuel to the fire by his self-styled views in Assembly and apprended that as the nominated connection with this historical session that "The members were not the elected representatives of Constituent Assembly represented only one the common people they would fail to reflect the major community of India." Mr. Viscount Simon hopes, aspirations and dreams of Indians while had also expressed his negative remarks by saying framing the Constitution. Reacting to the aforesaid that "The Constituent Assembly of India was a apprehension of the opposing people, Dr. B.R. body of Hindus. Ambedkar remarked "The Constituent Assembly In fact, the aforesaid views were after all in making a Constitution has no partisan motive. wrong, unjust and politically motivated. Because, Beyond securing a good and workable 3 Orissa Review * January - 2007 Constitution it has no axe to grind. In considering country in order to meet the needs of all classes the articles of the Constitution it has no eye on of people. getting through a particular measure. The future Quoting the noteworthy sayings of famous parliament if it met as a Constituent Assembly. American jurist Mr. Joseph story, Mr. Its members will be acting as partisans Sachidanand Sinha addressed the dignitaries seeking to carry amendments to the Constitution present at the first historical session of Indian to facilitate the passing of party measures which Constituent Assembly as follows, they have failed to get through Parliament by "Republics are created by virtue of public reason of some articles of the Constitution which spirit and intelligence of citizens. They fall, when has acted as an obstacle in their way. Parliament the wise are banished from the public councils have an axe to grind when the Constituent because they dare to be honest and the profilgates Assembly has none." are rewarded because they flatter the people, in As per the opinion of Mahatma Gandhi, order to betray them." Reciting some verses of the Constituent Assembly should reflect and Poet Iqbal and predicting the bright future of India represent the national life of Indians. Gandhi's Mr. Sinha concluded his speech quoting the vision was going to become a reality as because famous stanza from Bible "where there is no vision, towering personalities like Sarbapalli Dr. the people perish." Radhakrishnan, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mr. K.M. After the concluding speech of Mr. Sinha, Munshi, Alladi Krishna Swami Ayar, Prof. K.T. the oath taking ceremony of members was Sah, N. Gopalswamy Ayengar and Hrudayanath commenced. The secretary of Constitutent Kunjur were the members of Indian Constituent Assembly Mr.