Indian Constitution: A document that protects, integrates and educates

Abhishek Dayal *

Constitution of India was adopted on 26th November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly after almost three years of rigorous debates and discussion by the eminent freedom fighters and top intellectuals of the era. Much of the deliberations were done within the numerous specialized committees that took the help of nonelected experts also.

The makers of the Constitution considered all the available systems in the world and picked up the best forms and structures that they felt would suit a complex Nation. A fun fact about the Constitution is that it is not only the longest written Constitution in the world, its original Hindi and English versions are hand written, not printed.

It was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada in a flowing italic style with beautiful calligraphy. The Constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India.

But beyond the numerous fun facts, details and stories about the making of this wonderful document, the important fact remains that it is a sturdy document that has served to keep our Nation together, given hope and protection to millions of underprivileged and downtrodden individuals, shown the country the right path in times of turmoil and conflict and has been flexible enough to absorb the dreams of a growing Nation and has grown along with it without losing its essential value system.

Various people have highlighted various aspects of the Constitution as the key or the soul of the document. Dr Ambedbar pointed to Article 32, which guarantees Right to Constitutional Remedies as the heart and soul of the Constitution. Jawaharlal Nehru called ‘The Preamble’ as the soul of the Constitution.

Like any functional document, Indian Constitution sets about laying the framework of the Indian State. But more important is the fact that it does so with a humanistic, universalist and democratic philosophy. Equality and basic freedoms for all, non-discrimination, checks and balances in exercise of power, rule of law, universal brotherhood and National integrity: these are the sacred goals of the document.

The Preamble gives the vision, which are also elaborated upon in the Directive Principles of State policy and Fundamental Duties, and the rest of the document- Fundamental Rights, establishment of an independent judiciary, definition of powers of Legislature and Executive and detailed role of Union and State Governments in the proposed Federal structure - fleshes it out.

On 26 November, 2015, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that the spirit of the Constitution is not ‘You’ or ‘I’, but ‘We’. He was speaking on the first Constitution Day that we celebrated - the Government declared in 2015 that every year we would be celebrating 26 November as Samvidhan Divas or Constitution Day.

In his speech on the occasion, PM said that the Constitution is not only for the Governments to run their business with–it should reach the roots. Indeed, the provisions and spirit of the Constitution needs to be understood by every citizen of the country.

Not only will he/she be enriched by this exercise due to a better understanding of their own rights, but the document will play the all important role as an educator (for the individual) and an integrator (of the Nation).

The sense of dignity for all citizens, the equality and brotherhood that is inherent in it, the sense of duty that it instils, the sense of pride that it invokes and the clarity that it gives to the citizen with regard to how to create a social, political and economic construct of a healthy and progressive society: these are indeed invaluable and necessary lessons for all Indians for all times to come.

Our Constitution is indeed a sacred book. The oath of President of India reads: “I, (name), do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President (or discharge the functions of the President) of the Republic of India, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law….”

From our Prime Minister to all other top functionaries of our country, all take the oath for upholding the Constitution: “…. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India.”

Our Constitution is sacred for all of us, not merely because we deeply believe in it and not merely because it has served to protect and nourish us, but also because it is the distilled vision and wisdom of the tallest leaders of India who dedicated their lives for the freedom and betterment of the Nation.

It has the wisdom of ages concentrated in few pages. It is also sacred because it upholds the highest moral values that mankind knows, because it teaches us to love and respect each and every individual, because it abhors discrimination and exploitation and because it seeks to create a fair and just society.