Students attending the exhibition on the Constitution at Centenary Park, Thalassery, in Kannur district of Keralam.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
For many children, the Constitution may sound like a subject confined to textbooks and classrooms. But at Centenary Park, near the Thalassery District and Sessions Court, in Kannur, Keralam, it has become something to see, explore and ask questions about.
The Constitution Exhibition and Public Debate, organised as part of the 15th State Conference of All India Lawyers Union, is drawing visitors from different sections of society, particularly children and students.
Spread across around 120 slides, the exhibition traces the making and evolution of India’s Constitution, the contributions of national leaders and lesser-known personalities, Fundamental Rights and Duties, important constitutional provisions and landmark Supreme Court judgments from the early years of the Constitution through 2026. Lawyers and students explain the displays to visitors.
A version of the Constitution of India displayed at the exhibition
| Photo Credit:
special arrangement
The exhibition was conceived to strengthen constitutional literacy at a time when the need to understand and protect the Constitution has become particularly important, says A.N. Shamseer, chairman of the organising committee and former Keralam Assembly Speaker.
“Constitutional literacy is essential today. The exhibition is also a form of protest — the message is that the Constitution must be protected,” he told The Hindu.
The exhibition begins with British rule and the freedom struggle, explaining the emergence of the demand for a Constitution even before Independence. Around 20 opening slides trace the formation of the Constituent Assembly and the stages through which the Constitution was framed, helping young visitors understand that it was the product of a long historical and political process.
Keralam’s contribution
Beyond familiar figures such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the exhibition highlights a wider group of contributors, including members of the Drafting Committee and personalities whose roles are less widely known. Special attention is given to Keralam’s contribution to Constitution-making.
The exhibition also highlights the 15 women who participated in the Constitution-making process, including Keralite women Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene and Dakshayani Velayudhan, who is highlighted as the only Dalit woman from Kerala who was part of the Constitution-making process. Their participation is presented as an important part of the wider story of how India’s constitutional framework was shaped.
The exhibition also highlights Thalassery’s connection with constitutional history, including the contribution of lawyer P. Kunhiraman and his association with the wording concerning an offence being “punishable by law” in Article 17. Besides Fundamental Rights, Duties and other significant Articles explained through the displays, the exhibition also takes visitors through landmark judgments of the Supreme Court of India.
A. Viswan, district president, All India Lawyers Union, highlighting the contribution of lawyer Kunhiraman, said this was an important contribution from the Thalassery region and that the exhibition helps establish that the area has a place in constitutional history.
Mr. Viswan said one of the most notable aspects of the exhibition has been the response from students. Large numbers of school students are visiting the exhibition. He said the growing public participation represents a kind of slow movement towards greater engagement with and understanding of the Constitution. He also described the initiative as an attempt to ensure that the conference contributes something to society beyond organisational discussions.
Collective pledge
As part of the conference, the delegates will also take a collective pledge to protect the Constitution on October 10.
The exhibition was recently inaugurated by retired Justice Sunil Thomas, Judicial Member of the Central Administrative Tribunal. It will continue till October 11, alongside other programmes connected with the State conference, including cultural events.
Published – October 08, 2026 04:16 pm IST
