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When Dr Rajendra Prasad was in a fix regarding the dress code for the celebration marking the declaration of India as a Republic on January 26,1950...

From letters by Jawaharlal Nehru to a horoscope of the Republic of India,this exhibition at the National Archives of India traces the making of modern India

When Dr Rajendra Prasad was in a fix regarding the dress code for the celebration marking the declaration of India as a Republic on January 26,1950,Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that he should consider a black achkan and churidar payjama. The letter exchanged between the two is now on display at the National Archives of India in an exhibition titled Independence to Republic. The nations first Prime Minister writes that the attire mentioned is to be the official dress code for ambassadors too. Personally,I wear it at night and on other occasions, he writes.

Dr Meena Gautam,Deputy Director of the Archives,points out that is only one of the several documents in the exhibition that the public might not be aware of. She adds,Anecdotes help add interest. The show provides a glimpse into the making of the Indian Republic. In the neatly catalogued glass boxes are pages that detail landmark decisions from the declaration of Purna Swaraj by the Congress in 1929 to the list of Fundamental Rights approved at the Karachi session in 1931 events leading to the formation of the Constituent Assembly and the approval of the Constitution. While a diagram depicts the seating arrangement in the Constituent Assembly,a page narrates how Dr Rajendra Prasad disapproved the proposal of the Press Gallery Committee to segregate foreign correspondents from domestic media. Prasad found it contrary to Indian hospitality. Theres also a confidential letter dated March 17,1947 from Caption JW Scott announces the ceremonies related to the farewell of Viscount Wavell and the swearing in of Lord Mountbatten – including the dress code – and in a letter written on July 26,1949,the Under Secretary to the Government of India,Ministry of State,clarifies the objections and confirms that the correct word is Satyameva Jayate and not Jayati,as the former is the correct Upanishad form.

Among the pages reflecting on the past,one also finds a glimpse into the future,in the form of a handwritten letter by astrologer NK Behera. Dated January 14,1950,it is the horoscope of India,saying January 26,1950 was an auspicious date to declare the formation of the republic under an ascendant Aries in the full moon period. There might not be many opportunities to see this, says Gautam,who is already getting on with the preparation for the next exhibition in October. Titled Commonwealth: Upholding Sporting Traditions and Sporting Spirit,this exhibition will showcase the genesis and growth of Commonwealth movement and Indias contribution as a member. A separate segment will focus on Delhi and its architectural heritage.

The exhibition is on at National Archives of India,Janpat,till October 15. Contact: 23384797

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