www.tntextbooks.in
Unit 2
THE CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA
Learning Objectives
• To know about the Cons titution of India
• To recognise the formation of our Cons titution
• To know the salient features of our Cons titution
• To know the fundamental rights and duties of the citizen of India
Pathway
The Lesson speaks about the formation of the constitution of India. It gives guidelines
to govern the country, while ensuring the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens
and how it protects them.
Yazhinian and Sudaroli are brothers. elder brother’s advice. Inspite of Yazh’s
Yazh is student of standard six and Sudar is continuous request Sudar did not reduce the
in standard four. Yazh was preparing for his volume.
class test. Sudar after completing his home Yazh complained to his father that Sudar
assignments was watching an animated did not decrease the volume of the television
series on television. Sudar was watching it in spite of requesting him several times. Yazh
but the noise level disturbed Yazh. Sudar was made it clear that he had a class test the
totally engrossed in the series and laughed following day.
and clapped loudly. Yazh could not concentrate
“Isn’t your brother preparing for his class
on his lessons.
test? Weren’t you wrong in troubling him?”
So he asked Sudar to reduce the volume. continued his father.
But Sudar was not ready to adhere to his
172
, www.tntextbooks.in
not watch the movie while Yazh studies”.
“No my child. You can watch the movie
without causing trouble to anyone”.
“Don’t be angry Yazh. You study and I
promise I will not disturb you”.
Yazh smiled and patted Sudar’s back
and left the place.
Sudar’s mother was watching everything
silently. She said,” Even to run a small family
don’t we need to follow so many rules and
“I was watching the TV. Yazh kept
regulations? How much more of that will we
disturbing and stopped me from watching it”
need to administer a country?” she exclaimed.
said Sudar.
“It is an ocean Deepa. In order to
“Studying for the test and watching
administer people who follow different
television are not the same” said his father.
religions, speak different languages and
But Sudar was not ready to accept the belong to different castes and culture and
fact. Sudar was consistent that he had all treat everyone equally, we need to have a
rights to watch a film as much as Yazh had
good code of laws and guidelines which we
the right to study.
call as ‘The Constitution of India’.
His father admitted that both had The next day Sudar and Yazh went to
equal rights. But one must not hinder
school. It was the Republic Day also.
another’s freedom. Sudar didn’t realise the
The celebration was a jubilant. The
fact that he was very stubborn.
students and teachers were standing in line
“Look Sudar. You have all rights to watch
around the flag post. Immediately after the
the film” said his father.
hoisting of the flag, a discussion was held
“Yes dad”. with the chief guest for the day,
“Similarly, Yazh also has the right to listen Mr. Arumugam, an expert in social sciences.
to his favourite song on TV Coundn’t he?” “Wish you a happy Republic Day!” wished
“How can that happen? When I watch Mr. Arumugam.
the television he cannot do that”. “Wish you the same Sir”.
“When you can watch a film by “Do you know why do we celebrate the
increasing its volume, Yazh can also hear Republic Day?”
music loudly.” said father. “Our Constitution was framed and came
“How will I watch the movie?”. into existence from 26th January 1950. That
“How will Yazh study?” . is why every year we observe this day as the
Republic Day.” said the history teacher
“Oh! I didn’t think of it. Okay dad, I will
Malarmathi.
17
, www.tntextbooks.in
“Yes, Sir”
“Why is it necessary?”
“We should not disturb anybody in
public” said Tamilselvi.
“It’s true. Also no one should disturb
us”said Selva
“Yes, I do accept it. But what if someone
compels you to follow some rules? How
would you feel?”
“Yes, it is true. There are other reasons
why this constitution came into existence on “It would be difficult to do so.”
26th January 1950. When the Congress met “How do you feel when you are asked to
at Lahore in 1929, the members of the make your own rules?”
Congress unofficially declared the same day
“We would be proud and pleased to obey
as the Day of Poorna Swaraj or the Day of
our own rules”.
complete self governance. The next year,
26th January 1930 was celebrated as the (Everyone agreed and nodded their
heads)
Independence Day. That day has been
observed as our Republic Day”.
“What do you mean by the “Constitution
of India” asked Nathar.
“Before that, let me ask a few questions.
You answer me. Then I will explain in detail
about the constitution of India”.
“All right sir”.
(The students were prepared to answer
“The Constitution is an authentic
the questions)
document containing the basic ideas,
“Are you following any rules and principles and laws of a country. It also
regulation at home?” defines the rights and duties of citizens. The
“Yes sir” laws governing a country originate from the
consitutition. Every country is ruled on the
“Are you following any rules at school?”
basis of its constitution”
“Yes sir”
“What are the things that make the
“Are both of them the same or different?” constitution of India?” asked Deepika.
“Mostly, they are different” “The constitution of India is the ultimate
“Is it necessary to follow certain rules in law. We have to abide by it. It explains the
public places?” fundamental concepts of structure, methods,
174
, www.tntextbooks.in
powers and the duties of Government bodies. “How many women members were there
It also lists the fundamental rights and duties in the Constituent Assembly?
of the citizens. Directive Principles are also “15 women members were in the
mentioned in the constitution. So it is holistic Constituent Assembly”.
in nature”.
“When did they begin to frame the 'The Father of the
constitution?” asked Christopher. Constitution of India’ is
Dr.B.R. Ambedkar.
“The Drafting committee was formed
with eight members and its Chairman was
B.R. Ambedkar; B.N.Rao was appointed as
an advisor. The committee met for the first
time on 9th December 1946. On the same
day, the drafting of constitution of India
started”.
“In 1946, nearly 389 members of the
“How did they form the Indian
constituent Assembly who belonged to
constitution?”
different parties from different places came
together to frame the Constitution of India. “The constitutions of nearly 60 countries
The Chairman of the committee was including the UK, USA,former USSR, France ,
Mr. Rajendra Prasad”. Switzerland etc., were thoroughly examined
and their best features have been adopted by
“Who were the other significant
our constitution”.
members in the Constituent Assembly?”
“Did they draft it in a short span of time?”
“Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabai
Patel, Moulana Azad, S. Radhakrishnan, “No, nearly 2000 amendments were
Viajalakshmi Pandit and Sarojini Naidu made before the draft was finalised”
were the members in the Constituent “When did they complete this work?”
Assembly”.
“It took a period of 2 years, 11 months,
and 18 days. It was completed on 26th
November 1949".
“The constitution was accepted by the
Constituent Assembly. So, 26th November is
celebrated as the Day of the Constitution.
isn’t it ?” said Karthikeyan.
“Yes” said Mr. Arumugam
17
Unit 2
THE CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA
Learning Objectives
• To know about the Cons titution of India
• To recognise the formation of our Cons titution
• To know the salient features of our Cons titution
• To know the fundamental rights and duties of the citizen of India
Pathway
The Lesson speaks about the formation of the constitution of India. It gives guidelines
to govern the country, while ensuring the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens
and how it protects them.
Yazhinian and Sudaroli are brothers. elder brother’s advice. Inspite of Yazh’s
Yazh is student of standard six and Sudar is continuous request Sudar did not reduce the
in standard four. Yazh was preparing for his volume.
class test. Sudar after completing his home Yazh complained to his father that Sudar
assignments was watching an animated did not decrease the volume of the television
series on television. Sudar was watching it in spite of requesting him several times. Yazh
but the noise level disturbed Yazh. Sudar was made it clear that he had a class test the
totally engrossed in the series and laughed following day.
and clapped loudly. Yazh could not concentrate
“Isn’t your brother preparing for his class
on his lessons.
test? Weren’t you wrong in troubling him?”
So he asked Sudar to reduce the volume. continued his father.
But Sudar was not ready to adhere to his
172
, www.tntextbooks.in
not watch the movie while Yazh studies”.
“No my child. You can watch the movie
without causing trouble to anyone”.
“Don’t be angry Yazh. You study and I
promise I will not disturb you”.
Yazh smiled and patted Sudar’s back
and left the place.
Sudar’s mother was watching everything
silently. She said,” Even to run a small family
don’t we need to follow so many rules and
“I was watching the TV. Yazh kept
regulations? How much more of that will we
disturbing and stopped me from watching it”
need to administer a country?” she exclaimed.
said Sudar.
“It is an ocean Deepa. In order to
“Studying for the test and watching
administer people who follow different
television are not the same” said his father.
religions, speak different languages and
But Sudar was not ready to accept the belong to different castes and culture and
fact. Sudar was consistent that he had all treat everyone equally, we need to have a
rights to watch a film as much as Yazh had
good code of laws and guidelines which we
the right to study.
call as ‘The Constitution of India’.
His father admitted that both had The next day Sudar and Yazh went to
equal rights. But one must not hinder
school. It was the Republic Day also.
another’s freedom. Sudar didn’t realise the
The celebration was a jubilant. The
fact that he was very stubborn.
students and teachers were standing in line
“Look Sudar. You have all rights to watch
around the flag post. Immediately after the
the film” said his father.
hoisting of the flag, a discussion was held
“Yes dad”. with the chief guest for the day,
“Similarly, Yazh also has the right to listen Mr. Arumugam, an expert in social sciences.
to his favourite song on TV Coundn’t he?” “Wish you a happy Republic Day!” wished
“How can that happen? When I watch Mr. Arumugam.
the television he cannot do that”. “Wish you the same Sir”.
“When you can watch a film by “Do you know why do we celebrate the
increasing its volume, Yazh can also hear Republic Day?”
music loudly.” said father. “Our Constitution was framed and came
“How will I watch the movie?”. into existence from 26th January 1950. That
“How will Yazh study?” . is why every year we observe this day as the
Republic Day.” said the history teacher
“Oh! I didn’t think of it. Okay dad, I will
Malarmathi.
17
, www.tntextbooks.in
“Yes, Sir”
“Why is it necessary?”
“We should not disturb anybody in
public” said Tamilselvi.
“It’s true. Also no one should disturb
us”said Selva
“Yes, I do accept it. But what if someone
compels you to follow some rules? How
would you feel?”
“Yes, it is true. There are other reasons
why this constitution came into existence on “It would be difficult to do so.”
26th January 1950. When the Congress met “How do you feel when you are asked to
at Lahore in 1929, the members of the make your own rules?”
Congress unofficially declared the same day
“We would be proud and pleased to obey
as the Day of Poorna Swaraj or the Day of
our own rules”.
complete self governance. The next year,
26th January 1930 was celebrated as the (Everyone agreed and nodded their
heads)
Independence Day. That day has been
observed as our Republic Day”.
“What do you mean by the “Constitution
of India” asked Nathar.
“Before that, let me ask a few questions.
You answer me. Then I will explain in detail
about the constitution of India”.
“All right sir”.
(The students were prepared to answer
“The Constitution is an authentic
the questions)
document containing the basic ideas,
“Are you following any rules and principles and laws of a country. It also
regulation at home?” defines the rights and duties of citizens. The
“Yes sir” laws governing a country originate from the
consitutition. Every country is ruled on the
“Are you following any rules at school?”
basis of its constitution”
“Yes sir”
“What are the things that make the
“Are both of them the same or different?” constitution of India?” asked Deepika.
“Mostly, they are different” “The constitution of India is the ultimate
“Is it necessary to follow certain rules in law. We have to abide by it. It explains the
public places?” fundamental concepts of structure, methods,
174
, www.tntextbooks.in
powers and the duties of Government bodies. “How many women members were there
It also lists the fundamental rights and duties in the Constituent Assembly?
of the citizens. Directive Principles are also “15 women members were in the
mentioned in the constitution. So it is holistic Constituent Assembly”.
in nature”.
“When did they begin to frame the 'The Father of the
constitution?” asked Christopher. Constitution of India’ is
Dr.B.R. Ambedkar.
“The Drafting committee was formed
with eight members and its Chairman was
B.R. Ambedkar; B.N.Rao was appointed as
an advisor. The committee met for the first
time on 9th December 1946. On the same
day, the drafting of constitution of India
started”.
“In 1946, nearly 389 members of the
“How did they form the Indian
constituent Assembly who belonged to
constitution?”
different parties from different places came
together to frame the Constitution of India. “The constitutions of nearly 60 countries
The Chairman of the committee was including the UK, USA,former USSR, France ,
Mr. Rajendra Prasad”. Switzerland etc., were thoroughly examined
and their best features have been adopted by
“Who were the other significant
our constitution”.
members in the Constituent Assembly?”
“Did they draft it in a short span of time?”
“Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabai
Patel, Moulana Azad, S. Radhakrishnan, “No, nearly 2000 amendments were
Viajalakshmi Pandit and Sarojini Naidu made before the draft was finalised”
were the members in the Constituent “When did they complete this work?”
Assembly”.
“It took a period of 2 years, 11 months,
and 18 days. It was completed on 26th
November 1949".
“The constitution was accepted by the
Constituent Assembly. So, 26th November is
celebrated as the Day of the Constitution.
isn’t it ?” said Karthikeyan.
“Yes” said Mr. Arumugam
17
