New Delhi – Constituent Assembly Hall – January 26th, 1949
January 26th, 1949 started with bright sunshine over New Delhi. The whole city felt electric with excitement. Orange, white, and green flags hung from every building. They decorated lampposts and shop windows.
Today was the day India would officially become a Republic. Today they would have their own Constitution.
All the planning had led to this moment. All the careful negotiations. All the political moves of the past year and a half. Everything came down to this single day.
Inside the Constituent Assembly Hall, delegates sat in their assigned seats. They came from every corner of the expanded Union. Representatives from East Bengal sat next to delegates from Kashmir.
Men from Luvpur talked quietly with colleagues from the southern states. The debates over recent weeks had seemed genuine and passionate. But Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had been working behind the scenes. His supporters had quietly steered every major discussion.
Some delegates had challenged certain clauses. A few small changes were made to satisfy different groups. Dr. Ambedkar had fought hard for stronger caste reservations. Arjun had offered him a compromise that looked generous but kept real power centralized.
The main structure remained exactly as Arjun had designed it. A strong federal government. Limited state autonomy. Clear chains of command.
Prime Minister Arjun Mehra stood at the front of the hall. He looked completely calm and in control. His eyes moved across the assembled faces. There was quiet satisfaction in his expression. Sardar Patel stood beside him with his usual stern approval. Dr. Ambedkar sat nearby in the front row. His face showed mixed emotions.
V.D. Savarkar led the opposition benches. The Bharatiya Jana Dal delegates sat with him. They looked proud and nationalist. Savarkar had played his role perfectly. He provided the voice of loyal opposition. He criticized some details but never challenged the fundamental framework. It made the whole process look more democratic. Well, expect for one.
The Assembly President called for the final vote. His voice echoed through the large hall. The Constitution passed by an overwhelming margin. It was exactly what Arjun had expected. The applause was loud and sustained. It sounded like national unity rather than wild celebration.
Then came the signing ceremony. Delegates walked up one by one to sign their names. They signed the crisp pages of the Constitution of Bharat. When Arjun's turn came, his hand was completely steady.
His signature was clear and decisive. As he set down his pen, something fundamental had changed. The Constitution of Bharat was now the law of the land. India was officially a Republic.
Outside the hall, cheers filled the Delhi air. Thousands of people had gathered in the streets. They were celebrating with genuine joy. The National Publicity Unit had worked for weeks to ensure the right mood.
The story was triumph. The story was destiny fulfilled. The story was a united people governing themselves under their own laws.
Newspapers had prepared their headlines in advance:
THE TIMES OF INDIA: BHARAT IS A REPUBLIC! HISTORIC CONSTITUTION ADOPTED!
HINDUSTAN TIMES: NEW ERA BEGINS!
Rhea Sharma stood in the press gallery with other journalists. She had arrived early to get a good spot. She watched Arjun as he prepared to leave the Assembly Hall. He would address the waiting reporters next. There would be photographers and radio microphones. She felt a wave of admiration that she couldn't completely suppress.
When he spoke, his voice carried clearly through the microphones. He talked about India's democratic future. He spoke about the nation's strength and promise. His words were carefully chosen but they sounded genuine.
She could see the brilliance of the man she had once loved. She could also see how completely he had transformed himself.
She still hadn't fully accepted that they would never be together. It wasn't easy for her. It probably wasn't easy for him either. But she knew she couldn't remain stuck on this forever. She would have to find a way to move forward. At least their friendship could continue. They could still write to each other like old times.
She smiled slightly while thinking about how completely devoted Arjun had become to India. It was as if he had been born for exactly this role.
He did it, she wrote in her notepad. Her emotions were complicated but genuine. He actually did it. He made India a democracy just like he promised.
Delhi – Prime Minister's Private Study – Later, January 26th, 1949
That evening, fireworks lit up the Delhi sky. Arjun sat alone in his private study. The leather bound copy of the newly signed Constitution lay on his desk. Its pages were still fresh. The ink was still wet in some places. He picked it up and felt its weight.
It was a real symbol of his future knowledge and determined planning.
He had actually done it. The promise to the UN Security Council was fulfilled. The world would praise India's democratic values. They would celebrate its commitment to constitutional law. They would admire its rapid progress toward modern governance.
Foreign observers would see the lively Assembly debates. They would note the multi party system. They would read about the guaranteed fundamental rights.
They wouldn't see the hidden systems he had built. They wouldn't understand the subtle controls. They wouldn't recognize the carefully managed democratic theater.
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The next morning, newspapers around the world covered India's historic day. The new Asian giant had officially become a Republic.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: INDIA ADOPTS REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION
THE TIMES (LONDON): BRITAIN HAILS INDIA'S REPUBLIC
PRAVDA (MOSCOW): CONSTITUTION ADOPTED IN INDIA
In Washington, President Truman expressed public satisfaction. Secretary Marshall called the Constitution proof of India's democratic commitment. This justified American engagement and aid promises.
Some analysts privately questioned how effective Indian democracy would really be. But the political outcome was exactly what America needed.
In London, Attlee's government felt genuine relief. India had kept its public promise, at least. India remained stable as a Commonwealth Republic. Foreign Secretary Bevin himself acknowledged India's "unique constitutional path" while celebrating democratic principles.
In Moscow, the official reaction was predictably cynical. Stalin and Molotov saw it as a clever move to please Western powers. Still, they appreciated that Mehra had kept his word. India's new centralized state remained non aligned. It would be a valuable partner for future industrial cooperation.
In Paris, the French government offered formal congratulations. They acknowledged India's new republican status. They continued their cautious observation of Mehra's leadership. But they recognized that other major powers had accepted India's transformation.
The world had accepted Arjun's Republic. The carefully constructed illusion of democracy was now complete.
It provided perfect cover for the immense power he was building behind the scenes.