The Constitutional Support of and for India!

January 25, 2009 by Usha Pisharody 18 Comments

In anticipation of Republic Day tomorrow, here are a few thoughts, and more rambling, this time on the Constitution of India. Indian Home Maker had the invitation held out, to join in, to do this as a sort of Tag.. 🙂 So here it is, my few paise on it. 🙂

[Click on the picture to go the Wiki page]

In the CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

The Preamble states:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST` SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

[Sourced from Wikipaedia]

Therein, above, enshrined lies the precious lifeline of a Secular Republic. But how many of us, this day, 60 years on, from its having been the guardian of a Nation’s Being, give it more than a cursory glance, or a thought, for that matter, except on Republic Day, or perhaps while reading/teaching from an NCERT / SCERT /CBSE text book?

When IHM asked if I could join hands, [I like that idea :)], in writing about the Constitution of India, for Republic Day, there was both excitement, and anxiety within. Excitement at the thought of it, and anxiety at the reality, where I know of it, but little about it. But let me do it the way I best can. Ramble. I promise, however, to stick to the topic 🙂

The Constitution of India, the largest easily in volume, as this link to Wikipaedia will tell you, in exact numbers, is our safety net, securing the Nation, and delivering upon Promises when troubled citizens knock upon the doors of the Judiciary, and Justice is done. No, I am not familiar with any individual case studies, in this context, and shall not flatten my face further, in the pancake of ignorance I have spread before myself. 🙂

But I do know enough to be Proud of the Constitution of India! Yes, indeed. Not for its record breaking volume, but for its Creator and its Content. Of course he did not do it single-handedly, but he did lead the team that did! I truly hate referring to caste, religion and class, but I am darned proud that this document of the highest order, of greatest reverence, worthy of high honour has been written by a man whose caste is that which learned men of yore called Dalit. The Untouchable.

Dr B. R. Ambedkar

How much of an irony, and at the same time, how much of an achievement is it, truly, to give the land where discrimination flourished (and sadly, sometimes, still does) The Constitution! That is why I am proud. But at the same time, discovering that Dr Ambedkar later converted to Buddhism, and was denied being cremated at the Dadar Crematorium because of Caste notions, delivered a more crushing irony.

Onward to the Preamble. The pillars of the Nation’s true and secular, socialism are its core values of Liberty, Justice, Equality, Fraternity.. all of which have been simply and easily conveyed there. Tell me of another nation, more diverse, another more brilliant in its tapestry, in its intricate mosaic of a multiplicity of language, culture, peoples and religion! Where each is promised and given his/her due.

A Constitution to hold this teeming, sometimes seething, brilliance of diversity has to be one of Strength. It is.

This I know.

The Constitution gives, it provides

• Women an equal share in their father’s property, all women in India!
• Children , the right to be educated
• A citizen the right to voice his opinion, practice his religion, settle anywhere in India!
• Guidelines by way of Duties, Directive Principles…

And so this Republic Day, I thank God I am an Indian!

But I worry.
Has our Constitution become a mere paperweight?
Has it become a white elephant? [I read on a comment, in one of the blogs that India has 3 epics, the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha, and the Constitution!]
Has it become a document to practice editing, to suit one’s conveniences?

There have been several Amendments, some during the infamous Emergency period of the seventies, and later to accommodate Reservations.

I know the values of Equality and Justice and Fraternity are yet to be realized fully. Which is why reservations are needed. And yet who benefits these reservations? In the limited scope of my knowledge, during and after Admissions to Professional Colleges, the underprivileged castes who do get that seat, or those seats, are never economically backward, and in a sheer twist of fate the impoverished upper castes now pay for their ancestors sins of having been the Oppressor. I find poetic justice here, but not a solution to the problem. Can the Constitution not be amended to include those in dire need of reservation, the economically backward alone? And not any other consideration? This has been a desperate thought within for a long time now.

However, all said and done, I am glad I am here, this day, enjoying that Freedom my country has been led to, especially with this wonderful Constitution.

Disclaimer: All opinions shared here, are mine and mine alone; all the ignorance displayed here may please be excused and forgiven. Thank you 🙂

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An Honour bestowed by Balvinder Sir

May I take this opportunity to share on this space proudly a Blogger Award, an honour bestowed by Balvinder Singh, this Republic Day? Honoured and Humbled by this generosity.

[Click on the picture]

The Citation

On the eve of the Republic Day of our country, i take this opportunity to present this award to my blogger friends who have made a difference by writing their frank opinions in their blogs as well, as in the comment columns of other blogs. These bloggers have not written any sensational or luscious stories to attract traffic to their blogs, but they have put down in prose as well, as verse, whatever they have felt strongly about, may it be about their personal lives or about a burning issue of the society. The sole purpose of their writing has been to make a difference. I wish that their ideas may fructify and bring a change in the society for better. I salute them all.

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Thank you, Balvinder Sir, for all the care, the thought, and the simple generosity of wanting to create something like this, and for sharing it with us. Indebted.

25 January, 2008

Warmest of greetings on the Occasion of Republic Day, to everyone. Be proud to be an INDIAN!!!