There are a few defining dates in our country’s democratic journey; . On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted our Constitution after extensive deliberations. Following a suggestion by six-time Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, in 2015, the government started celebrating this day as  to promote constitutional values among citizens. That year also marked the 125th , the architect of our founding document.

Over the years, suggestions by parliamentarians have shaped our Constitution. During the final days of the Constitution-making process, Constituent Assembly members pressed upon its president, Dr Rajendra Prasad, that there should be a handwritten copy of the document signed by all members. The rationale was not lost on Dr Prasad — that a plain, printed document would not be an appropriate symbol of the occasion as the country embarks on its journey as a republic.