Editorial: Preserve the spirit of Indian Constitution

Unfortunately, the past few years in India have seen attempts to dilute constitutional values, undermine the independence of the institutions and erode the powers of the States

As India marks 75 years of adopting the Constitution, the occasion calls for a candid assessment of where we stand in protecting the core principles of the living document, which symbolise the soul of India. The common man in this country has always reposed unflinching faith in the ideals of the Constitution, exercised the rights it provides and discharged the duties that it entails. However, the same cannot be said about the ruling dispensation. Unfortunately, the past few years have seen attempts to dilute constitutional values, undermine the independence of the institutions and erode the powers of the States. As the nation observes Constitution Day, there is a need to take a collective pledge to preserve and protect the basic architecture of the Constitution, which forms the bedrock of democracy. The founding fathers of the Constitution envisioned a system that provides every citizen with equal opportunities, a life of dignity, national duties, and rights, thereby paving the way for strong nation-building. While it empowers us with rights, it also reminds us of our duties as citizens. These duties are the foundation of a strong democracy. The Constitution is not just a manual for governments or code for social conduct, but represents the soul of India, a sacrosanct commitment. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on January 26, 1950, laying the foundation for the world’s largest democracy. For seven-and-a-half decades, this document has been serving as the holy text and guiding light for the country. Without any doubt, secularism and pluralism stand out as cornerstones of India’s democratic identity.

Unlike the Western model of complete separation between religion and state, the Indian Constitution adopts a model of “equal respect for all religions”, ensuring that the state neither favours nor discriminates against any religion. What makes the Constitution secular is its key features, namely, freedom of religion (Articles 25-28), equality of all before the law (Articles 14 and 15) and neutrality of the State in matters of religion (Articles 27-28), allowing every individual to profess, practice, and propagate their faith. In its 75 years, the Constitution has been amended almost 125 times. The ability to amend its provisions has proved to be the Constitution’s strength, enabling it to adapt to the changing needs of a diverse society. In the past few years, some among the Hindutva ideologues —representing a fringe section, though —have been advocating changes in the core nature of the Constitution, particularly calling for the removal of the word ‘secular’. Though the BJP leaders and the NDA government have dissociated themselves from such demands, there have been periodic calls for declaring India a Hindu Rashtra. The coexistence of secularism and pluralism is a basic feature that is central to India’s unity in diversity.

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