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Past Events
Nov 26 2025 | FLAME University, Pune
Constitution Day!
Marking the 76th Anniversary of Constitution's adoption.
The Centre for Legislative Education and Research (CLER), in collaboration with Constitution and Electoral Literacy Club (CELC) at FLAME University organized the Constitution Day event on 26th November 2025 to commemorate and mark the 76th anniversary of the formal adoption of the Indian Constitution. The primary aim was to foster a culture of constitutional morality, stimulate scholarly reflection, and enhance awareness of constitutional rights and duties among the students and university community.
The session was inaugurated by the CLER Chair, Prof. Shivakumar Jolad. Following this address, he led the assembled gathering in a collective reading of the Preamble, establishing a reflective tone for the proceedings.
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The preamble reading was followed by engaging talks by our two distinguished guests.
Prof. Asha Sarangi from the Centre for Political Studies, JNU. Prof. Sarangi offered an in-depth historico-political analysis of how Constituent Assembly debates on the question of our national and official language(s) shaped our constitutional imagination, highlighting the tensions between reconciling national integration with linguistic pluralism. Drawing on various speeches and quotes, she brought out several topics of fervent discussion and the ways in which the social and elite positions of Assembly members influenced their arguments and preferences.
Prof. K. K. Kailash from the University of Hyderabad and Lokniti, CSDS. Prof. Kailash provided a lucid and engaging overview of the evolution of academic research on the Indian Constitution. He explained how scholarly attention has shifted across different phases: moving from a predominantly legal approach, to epiphenomenal readings that treated constitutional developments as secondary to broader events, to moral and political interpretations, and eventually returning to renewed legal analyses in recent years.
Both the talks were followed by lively Q&A session, where attendees engaged with the speakers on several pertinent and thooughtful questions.
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The final segment was an interactive Constitution Quiz, organized by CLER in collaboration with the CELC. This segement generated significant enthusiasm, with active participation from five teams, each comprising two to three students. The quiz proved to be a highly effective pedagogical tool for reinforcing constitutional knowledge in an engaging manner. The winning and runner-up teams were awarded prizes sponsored by CLER, serving as an incentive for continued interest in constitutional studies.
Lively discussions with guest speakers
Constitution quiz in action
The event blended high-level scholarly discourse with accessible, interactive learning.
Oct 31 2025 | FLAME University, Pune
National Unity Day!
Celebrating Sardar Patel's contribution to Integration and Unity of India
The Centre for Legislative Education and Research (CLER) at FLAME University
commemorated National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) with a thought-provoking dialogue on India’s idea of unity amidst diverse regional identities, alongside the public release of a landmark set of digital archives chronicling India’s political integration and state reorganization - a compendium of Independence and Integration, and
Integration of India, are now freely accessible to the public. Based on the articles, Drawn and Redrawn: The Making of India’s Internal Boundaries, a multilingual podcast series was also launched on Spotify and YouTube.
As the world navigates renewed debates on nationalism, identity, and federalism, India’s experience offers a compelling framework for reimagining collective belonging in the 21st century. The event’s discussions underscored how Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision continues to resonate in contemporary conversations about territorial governance, federalism, and inclusive development.
Participants of the talk sessions
Address by Dr. Suhas Palshikar
The event featured two lectures: Delivering the first talk titled “Integration to Reorganization: State Formation in India Since Independence,” Prof. Asha Sarangi, Centre for Political Studies, JNU, traced the historical trajectory of India’s political consolidation. Her address highlighted the tensions and negotiations between democratic participation and federal balance in shaping the Indian nation-state.
Address by Prof Asha Sarangi
The second address, “Unity in Separate Identity? The Paradoxes of Regionalism,” was delivered by Dr. Suhas Palshikar, Chief Editor, Studies in Indian Politics. Dr. Palshikar examinned how regional aspirations and linguistic reorganization have both strengthened and tested India’s idea of unity, offering fresh insight into the paradoxes of regionalism within a democratic framework.
Speakers and members of the India State Stories team
March 24 2025 | FLAME University, Pune
India in Transition:
75 years of evolution of Indian states and districts
A single day jam-packed conclave where we explored India’s transformation from its early boundaries to its present structure through expert talks and a digital archive. The event examined the challenges and opportunities of territorial reorganization and federalism among many other concepts.
Keynote Address by Dr. Sanjeev Chopra
Expert Panel Discussions
Participants of the Conclave
Launch of the State Posters by the India State Stories team and members of the Conclave
Speakers and core team members of the India State Stories team