Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to members of the first Constituent Assembly on Thursday, highlighting how remarkable people from various backgrounds and ideologies came together to give the country a “worthy Constitution” 75 years ago on December 9, 1946. 

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PM Modi also shared photos from the 75th anniversary of the historic event.

“Today, 75 years ago our Constituent Assembly met for the first time. Distinguished people from different parts of India, different backgrounds and even differing ideologies came together with one aim- to give the people of India a worthy Constitution. Tributes to these greats,” PM Modi said on Twitter. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is photographed in the front row with other leaders in one of the photographs. Another shows Jawaharlal Nehru giving a speech to the House of Commons.

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He added, “I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gathering’s proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it. Doing so would be an intellectually enriching experience.”

Sachchidananda Sinha, the assembly’s “temporary chairman”, presided over the first constituent assembly meeting. Sinha was India’s oldest parliamentarian at the time, having served on the Imperial Legislative Council between 1910 and 1920. PM Modi also posted a photo of the original court transcript.

Facts about the Constituent Assembly include the following: 

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on December 9, 1946, in the Constitution Hall of Parliament House, now known as the Central Hall. 

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The Assembly had 389 members at the time, which was reduced to 299 after the Partition. 

Dr Sachchidananda Sinha served as Interim President of the Constituent Assembly. The meeting, which drew 207 members who registered their credentials, marked the beginning of the Assembly’s work on the Constitution.

The Constituent Assembly completed the historic task of drafting the Constitution for the newly independent nation in two years, eleven months, and seventeen days. The Assembly met for 11 sessions during that time. The Constituent Assembly spent a total of 114 days solely debating the draft of the document.