Monday, the 9th December 1946
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The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of India took place in
Constitution Hall, New Delhi, on Monday, the 9th December 1946, at Eleven of the Clock.
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ELECTION OF TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Acharya J. B. Kripalani
(United Provinces: General): (in requesting Dr. Sachchidananda
Sinha to take the Chair as temporary Chairman,
said)-
*[Friends, at this
auspicious occasion of historical importance I invite, on your behalf, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha to be the
temporary Chairman of this Assembly. Dr. Sinha
needs no introduction. You all know him. He is not only the oldest among us
but also the oldest parliamentarian in India, having served, as you know, as
a member of the Imperial Legislative Council from 1910 to 1920. He entered
the Central Legislative Assembly in 1921 not only as one of its members, but
its Deputy President also. He was then entrusted with the portfolio of an
Executive Councellor and Finance Member of the Government
of Bihar and Orissa. So far as I remember Dr. Sinha
was the first Indian who was ever appointed as a Finance Member of a
Province. He has a particular taste for education having been Vice-Chancellor
of the Patna University for eight years. Over and above all this, Dr. Sinha is the oldest Congressman among us. Up till 1920 he
was a member of the Congress, being at one time its Secretary.
After the year 1920 when we started on a new way to gain freedom he parted
company with us. He, however, never wholly left us. He has always been
helping us. He never joined any other organization and his sympathies were
ever with us. Such a person is entitled to be the temporary Chairman of this
Assembly. His work is brief but it is all the same most important. It is
inaugurating the proceeding of this House. As we begin every work with Divine
blessings we request Dr. Sinha to invoke these
blessings so that our work may proceed smoothly. Now, I once more, on your
behalf, call upon Dr. Sinha to take the Chair.]
(Acharya J. B. Kripalani
then conducted Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha to the Chair, which he then occupied amidst
acclamation.)
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