We must imbibe the true spirit of our Constitution
Human civilisation has a long history, with concerns about moral decision-making, power equations, protection and propagation of territorial and cultural space emerging over time. In this endeavour, constitutions have become guiding lights to calibrate aspiration, actions, and societal progress. India, considered the mother of democracy, carries a special purpose in this context as we celebrate Constitution Day in the ongoing Amrit Kaal.
It was in 2015 that the Narendra Modi government declared November 26 as Constitution Day. It is a moment to pay respect to the forefathers who sacrificed their lives for the values that enabled Constitutionmakers to build the Constitution for future generations. While many constitutions in other countries have succumbed to skewed interests and imbalanced power equations, the Indian one has stood the test of time. This solemn and spirited document’s resilience in adapting to changing social needs is admirable.
There are several notable characteristics to the document. Its assertion — We, the People — places people at the core of its functioning. Through its defined roles for the judiciary, legislative, executive federalism, local government and other independent institutions, it has cared for individuality. For the smooth relationship between the Centre and states, the distribution of legislative powers under Article 246 in the 7th Schedule is a key aspect of the Constitution. The amalgamation of the rights and duties of citizens exhibit two sides of the same coin in the overarching goal of nation-building.
BR Ambedkar, chairman of the Constituent Assembly’s drafting committee, during the concluding debate on November 25, 1949, remarked on the principle of one man, one vote, one value, and warned of the inequality in social and economic life. However, while laying out the noble Constitution, he reiterated his concern and said, “How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions?
As the nation celebrates Amrit Mahotsav — laying out the blueprint for the nation’s growth towards the centenary of Independence — the government’s vision of ending the contradiction of social and economic life, as pointed out by Ambedkar, is being fulfilled. Welfare measures are being carried out across sectors — health care, housing, energy, education, industry, space and culture — to enhance individual potential.
The coherence and convergence of sector-specific schemes are easing the life of the masses. Reducing the compliance burden on people and ensuring effective scheme formulation to reach targets and outcomes are proof of the goodness in the governance structure of the Modi government. This governance, which places humanity at its centre, has led to greater trust among people. The success of the aspirational district programme is yet another testimony to this.
Further, India’s presidency of the G20 grouping is an apt opportunity to showcase the constitutional values that have global resonance. India has already emerged as a voice of reason among developing countries. The necessity to reform international governance through the United Nations, multilateralism, the ongoing efforts and straightforward approach to end the threat of terrorism, sharing of benefits and burden in the climate crisis and sustainability measures, the stand by the side of global peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, needs-based multi-alignment, and humanitarian initiatives such as Vaccine Maitri among many others are an emulation of constitutional values and force multiplier for global good.
India’s innate ability and unique strength to embrace unity in diversity have the potential to build consensus on diverse views on international platforms. Our commitment to constitutional values has the potential to shape the global discourse and build strong institutions based on democratic fundamentals.
Constitution Day is an apt moment to reflect on and translate constitutional values into our thoughts, vision and actions. These powerful values and wisdom radiating from the Constitution are a treasure not only for India, but for all of humanity. We must sense the gravity of these values, imbibe them and act towards adding more meaning to them. Let’s resolve to continue the countless legacy of unsung heroes. As citizens, we must state to the world, with pride, “We, the people of India”.