Bengaluru-based Reclaim Constitution is one of the organisations manning displays at the ongoing event titled ‘After the Assembly: Constituting India’ in London’s SOAS Gallery. The event seeks to bring forth a host of information about the early days of the formulation of the Constitution by showcasing documentation on debates from the Constituent Assembly as well as other archival material. The exhibition also includes artwork on this theme.
Vinay Kumar from Reclaim Constitution said in conversation with The Indian Express, “There is sometimes an impression that it was only those in the Constituent Assembly who were involved in making the Constitution. But there were also many ordinary people who contributed. There are thousands of letters here that were sent by ordinary citizens to the Constituent Assembly.”
To spread awareness about the Indian Constitution at the event, Reclaim Constitution has exhibited pieces of merchandise like bags bearing the preamble, or a Gombe Habba doll featuring the “founding mothers” of the Constitution (the 15 women in the Constituent Assembly – Ammu Swaminathan, Dakshayani Velayudhan, Begum Aizaz Rasul, Durgabai Deshmukh, Hansa Mehta, Kamla Choudhury, Leela Roy, Malati Choudhury, Purnima Bannerjee, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Renuka Ray, Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, and Annie Mascarenhas).
Also on display is a collection of stamps and philatelic material showcasing Constitutional themes – from the very first stamp after Independence to those issued in present times.
Kumar noted that the base collection of 200 philatelic items could become part of a travelling exhibition showcased at schools to spread awareness.
He said, “Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin visited us on Friday, and he was quite interested in our work. We also shared some information about what we have been doing.”
Kumar also noted that the group had an opportunity to meet scholars dealing with Constitutions through the lens of decolonisation. He said, “There are many Constitutions acknowledging the (British) monarch. What was striking is the significance of figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, who gave a call for Poorna Swaraj without Dominion status… it may not have a huge impact, but the laws acknowledging a monarch are still a statement that exists.”
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Kumar shared that there had been an overwhelming response from visitors following messages on social media, both from visiting academics and members of the Indian diaspora in London. He said, “For instance, we had a Canadian professor of comparative Constitutional law visit us as well as a lot of Indian students.”