Page 147 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

This day is celebrated as Republic Day.

The Constitution of India is not a lifeless book of dry rules and regulations. It is a book which

reflects the dreams and aspirations of every Indian. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime
Minister of the country decided against getting the Constitution typeset. He picked up the
phone and asked for Prem Bihari Narayan Saxena.

Prem Bihari was elated when Panditji told him that he had been chosen to write the
Constitution of India in his own hand. Panditji gave him a room in the House of Parliament

to set up his calligraphy studio. Bundles of parchment sheets were neatly arranged, over 400
pen holders with nib number 3036 were kept ready. The nibs were brought from England

and Czechoslovakia.
Before Prem Bihari began the work, President Rajendra Prasad took Prem Bihari to

Shantiniketan to meet the artist, Nandalal Bose. Prem Bihari discussed with Bose how the

pages would be laid out, where the text would appear and where Bose would place illustrations
and decorations to add beauty to the precious book which the nation was eagerly waiting for.

Nandalal Bose and his students adorned the pages of the Constitution with artwork. They
were done with great thought, matching them to the content on the pages.

On the parchment pages, Prem Bihari inscribed the Constitution in the beautiful italic style
of calligraphy. It took Prem Bihari six months to finish writing the Constitution. When

Pandit Nehru asked him how much he should be paid for his labour, Prem Bihari just smiled
and said that it was a labour of love and he didn’t expect any payment. But Prem Bihari’s one

145 Arrow - English Plus-8