The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was presided over by Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, who was the eldest member of the Assembly.
File photo of the first sitting of Constituent Assembly. Image credit - Twitter@narendramodi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to eminent stalwarts of the Constituent Assembly to mark 75 years of its historic first sitting.

Paying tributes to the great leaders who gave the people of the country a remarkable Constitution, PM Modi on Thursday in a series of tweeted said: “Today, 75 years ago our Constituent Assembly met for the first time.”

“Distinguished people from different parts of India, different backgrounds and even differing ideologies came together with one aim- to give the people of India a worthy Constitution. Tributes to these greats,” he added.

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The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was presided over by Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, who was the eldest member of the Assembly.

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Dr Sinha was introduced and conducted to the Chair by Acharya Kripalani.

“Today, as we mark 75 years of the historic sitting of our Constituent Assembly, I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gathering’s proceedings and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it. Doing so would be an intellectually enriching experience,” PM Modi said in another tweet.

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on December 9, 1946 in the Constitution Hall, now known as the Central Hall of Parliament House.

The members of the Constituent Assembly sat in semi-circular rows facing the Presidential dias.

The desks, which could be warmed electrically, were placed on sloping green-carpeted terraces.

File photo of the first sitting of Constituent Assembly. Image credit – Twitter@narendramodi

Those, who adorned the front row were Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Acharya JB Kripalani, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu, Hare Krushna Mahatab, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, Dr BR Ambedkar, Sarat Chandra Bose, C Rajagopalachari and M Asaf Ali.

A total of 207 representatives including 9 women were present in the first sitting.

The inaugural session began at 11 am with the introduction of Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, the temporary Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, by Acharya Kripalani.