Samvidhan- A Series That Blew People’s Minds With Facts

Image Credit - newslaundry

Details:

Samvidhaan- The making of the Constitution of India, is a mini-television series which is of ten episodes. It was broadcasted in the year 2014 on Rajya Sabha TV where every episode was aired weekly. The series has people communicating both in Hindi and English but is primarily broadcasted in Hindi. 

The episode I have chosen, which is the 6th episode, lasts for 61 minutes and 43 seconds. The series is directed by Mr. Shyam Benegal and produced by Rajya Sabha TV. 

The main cast consists of Swara Bhaskar as the narrator, Sachin Khedekar as Dr. B.R Ambedkar, Dalip Tahil as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Utkarsh Majumdar as Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Tom Alter as Abdul Kalam Azad and Neeraj Kabi as Mahatma Gandhi. The language certificate is unavailable. There are no issues related to film certification.

Synopsis:

On January 26, 1950, India turned into an Independent Sovereign Democratic Republic with its own Constitution. The Constitution of Independent India that appeared that day was the zenith of an excursion that had started during the main conflict of Independence in 1857 when Indian officers (defying British frontier rule) endeavored to outline their own Constitution. 

When the freedom movement took place during the mid-twentieth century, a fundamental endeavor to make a constitution was made under the initiative of Mahatma Gandhi. At last, a Constituent Assembly comprising around 300 people addressing different shades of political assessment and various pieces of the nation congregated in the Central Hall of Parliament on December 9, 1946. 

Their assignment was to outline a constitution for a free India. The Assembly required nearly three years to make the Constitution that characterizes and guides our country today. The account of making Independent India's Constitution is brimming with show and fervor. 

It occurred during pivotal occasions that changed the political forms of South Asia. It was a close to outlandish errand of changing a different, heterogeneous country into a brought-together country. Samvidhaan is the untold story of how the Constitution of the biggest Democratic Republic on the globe was made.

The 6th episode is named, “Whose Land, is it? Land reforms and acquisitions”. Here they talk about the liquidation of the Zamindari system and have an entire debate on whether they would be considering ‘Right to Property’ amongst the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution of India.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhai Patel discussing the Constitution of India.

Emphasis on the Indian Constitution in a Single Episode:

At the very beginning of the episode, Sardar Vallabhai Patel speaks about Clause 19. He says, “No property, movable or immovable of any person or corporation including any interest in any commercial or industrial undertaking shall be taken or acquired for public use unless the law provides for the payment of compensation for the property taken or acquired and specifies the principles on which and how the compensation is to be determined” (3:31min).

This would inform the audience that in the process of building the Constitution of India, the then leaders were trying to remove the Zamindari system and use the lands for the public benefit and give equal compensation to the proclaimed owners. The debate begins when the Zamindaris wants a profitable compensation system whereas the Constitution makers want ‘Just’ payment to be done. 

The next narration is done by Swara Bhaskar when she claims, “the word ‘Just’ was inserted in the Act of 1935 by the British but in building the new Constitution, this word was fiercely debated within the committee members” (7:14min). As the debate continued, Mr. Kesava Rao, a liberal claim to support clause 19, states, “Sir, I stand to support the clause. 

We are framing this constitution for a free India; we are asking the British to quit India though they came here 200 years ago and in response to our demand, they are quitting India. The British acquired empires and the landlords acquired large fortunes, both utilizing exploitation. I request only a nominal compensation may be payable for acquisition of any property” (9:42min). Later on, Sardar Vallabhai Patel justifies the intention of the Clause and passes the acquisition Bill without affecting the Zamindars.

Committee Members:

On 10th September 1949, Prime Minister Nehru presented a bill to acquire lands from the landlords. Many of the committee members had apprehensions about the compensation part. 

Here, a socialist leader, Prof. K.T Shah, makes a valid point by stating, “Property is theft. If you look into the roots, you would find that most of the properties are acquired by force, fraud, and violence. This cannot be justified under any arrangement. If you want to compensate those who have acquired huge properties no matter how long ago, it is due to fraud, force, and violence. It goes against the principles by which we are taking guidance to build our Constitution” (19:09 min). 

Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, the PM of the U.P had already abolished the Zamindari system in his province. So he states, “Sir, Raja Jagannath Baksh Singh is the leader of the Zamindari Party in U.P. He desires to get the market value plus 15 to the Zamindars which sounds greedy and makes them look at the county in a less-sensible and non-generous manner. I would like to remind the people about the Objectives Resolution which was passed on the first day; also remind them of the Preamble to the Bill. Because sometimes the members forget the vital principles that are the very soul and basis of our Constitution. I want to clarify that, in our Constitution, Zamindari abolition and Land Reforms bills are brought to make our country Republic” (35:15 min).

Conclusion:

Overall, the TV series really caught my attention as it presented different viewpoints in building the Indian Constitution that we abide by and live with. It has taken the country to great lengths and really makes me appreciate the fact that there were such renowned people involved in the making and not just casual opinions. 

The audience, for sure, would receive a great amount of information by watching the series and understand the functioning of the country.

Written By - Amulya

Edited By - Daniel Deepak Charles