India, Jan. 29 -- India's history is littered with bold experiments that fizzled and grand pursuits that stumbled under the kaleidoscope of its complex society. But some institutions became glorious successes, earning respect and shaping the nation.

On January 26, 1950, India adopted its Constitution and two days later, the first hearing of the Supreme Court was held with a total strength of eight judges led by the first Chief Justice of India, Justice HJ Kania. Eight years later, the Court found a permanent address on Tilak Marg in the national Capital, named after Lokmanya Tilak. A lawyer by training, Tilak was charged in arguably India's first significant sedition case, in 1897, for publishing newspaper articles. Who knew that censors...