India's First Constitution Museum Opens Today in Sonipat; Know More About it!

Museums hold in them the power to narrate stories. One such museum speaks multiple stories about one of the most important documents that guide the rights and responsibilities of an Indian citizen, the Constitution. Launched today, the Constitution Museum was inaugurated at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat today by Shri Om Birla, Lok Sabha speaker, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice along with the Founding Chancellor of JGU, Naveen Jindal.

The Constitution Academy and the Rights and Freedoms Museum, which is an initiative by Jindal Global University aim to explore the foundation of India’s democracy along with the values of the Constitution that it upholds. This museum is designed to offer engaging insights to make the Constitution accessible to people. 

All about history, story, and preservation

The museum allows visitors to immerse themselves in the audiovisual story of pre-independence India through a 360-degree visual spectacle. The exhibition inside the museum displays a chronological tapestry of the events that paved the way for the drafting of the Indian constitution. The museum has used cutting-edge technology combined with multimedia storytelling. 

The museum also features the collaboration between the O.P. Jindal Global University and IIT Madras to bring to life a tour guide robot called S.A.M.V.I.D. to commemorate the most important document that defines India as a Republic. Amongst the many displayed items is one of the 1000 photolithographic reproductions of the Constitution of India, at the center of the museum. 

The Constitution replica, which is a crafted edition, also bears the signatures of the nation's founders, the framers of the Constitution. This draft took five years to complete. Prem Behari Narain Raizada rendered the calligraphy, and Nandalal Bose and other artists illustrated the text. Anjchita B. Nair, CEO, Culture and Head, Centre for Museums, curated the museum.

The museum also highlights the contribution of women members of the Constituent Assembly. The space has animations about the life of each female member of the Constituent Assembly that focus on their contribution to the Constitution as well as their efforts in the making of Independent India. 

The museum has paid special tribute to the nearly 300 members of the Constituent Assembly. It features sculpted busts of each member to honor their contributions to the Indian Constitution. One highlight is the Echoes of Liberty section, where artist Rahul Gautam has created a mural by blending brass with a green patina, seamlessly fusing elements from constitutional manuscripts with modern design.

The gallery, at the museum, dives into the story and shows the global inspirations and historical frameworks that surely influenced the making of the Constitution. The gallery highlights how the ideas were imagined, reimagined and adapted to match the needs of the Indian society and the diverse populace so that the constitution could be created keeping all that in mind.

The mezzanine level of the exhibition features a hologram exhibit of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. This installation showcases Dr. Ambedkar's words and vision, allowing visitors to experience his legacy firsthand. Many displays draw inspiration from his speeches and writings.

Centred in Haryana, this place is likely to become a major hotspot among the history buffs in the coming days.