SOAS Gallery exhibition marks 75 years of the Indian constitution
Now open at the SOAS Gallery, “After the Assembly: Constituting India” commemorates 75 years of the Indian Constitution - the longest living constitution in the global South.
It tells the story of how India determined its path as a new republic, and of the ownership and remaking of its constitution by today’s students, artists, and ordinary citizens.
The Indian Constituent Assembly was convened in 1946 to determine the norms and aspirations to be enshrined in the new country’s constitution. Chaired by lawyer, economist and social reformer Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the Assembly’s process took almost 3 years, with the Constitution of India coming into force in January 1950.
The exhibition features a new digital research platform comprising plenary and committee debates, alongside a range of archival documents including petitions and letters from civil society organisations and the public. These will be displayed together with short films, photographs, artists’ prints and other creative outputs.
After the Assembly explores how amidst deep disagreement, we can reach negotiated agreements between diverse groups and individuals.
“After the Assembly"s exhibition team comprises SOAS’s Professor Rochana Bajpai (lead), Oroon Das (designer), Dr Nilanjan Sarkar (LSE ) Dr Chaitanya Sambrani (ANU) with contributions from colleagues across India the UK. It was produced through "Pluralist Agreement and Constitutional Transformation (PACT)", a three-year research project funded by UKRI-AHRC.
Speaking about the exhibition, Professor Bajpai said:
“As the Constitution of India marks 75 years, “After the Assembly” explores how amidst deep disagreement, we can reach negotiated agreements between diverse groups and individuals. The exhibition features contributions from researchers, filmmakers, artists and students, showcasing the many expressions of Indian citizenhood."
“After the Assembly: Constituting India” runs at the SOAS Gallery from 16 July until 20 September, and is free to the public during gallery opening hours.
