Ideas and Ideals of the Indian constitution
Ideas and Ideals of the Indian constitution
Mahatma Gandhi described the India of his dreams as,...an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice,... an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. There can be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability or the curse of intoxicating drinks and drugs. Woman will enjoy the same rights as man."
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| Respecting our national flag is a fundamental duty of every Indian (as laid down in the constitution of India). |
Respecting our national flag is a fundamental duty of every Indian (as laid down in the constitution of India).
India, as you know, was under British rule for almost 200 years. Under British rule, we were compelled to obey laws that favoured our rulers and not us. Hence, in 1946, a group of some of the wisest thinkers of India was elected to form a Constituent Assembly, whose main purpose was to frame a constitution for independent India. They took tunee years to complete this immensely challenging task. They had to draft the constitution keeping in mind the needs and aspiration of the various ethnic, religion, linguistic and cultural groups that made up India. There was also the strangle hold of caste and centuries of gender discrimination to be considered.
With great foresight and wisdom, the makers of the constitution created a remarkable document, which was full of ideals and was yet practical.
Members of the constituent assembly
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Members of the constituent assembly |
The key features of the constitution are briefly explained below. A study of this will enable you to appreciate the conscious and cautious efforts taken by our constitution makers to shape India into a truly democratic country.
KEY FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION
What are the key features of the Indian constitution?
The Preamble
Our constitution begins with a preface or introduction called the preamble. It highlights the goals and aspirations of the Indian people.
Now let us understand what the terms used actually
mean.
Sovereign: Sovereign means that India is now independent-it is no longer governed by any external authority and is its own master.
Socialist: Everyone is given equal opportunities to make use of the resources of the country. It was hoped that this would narrow the divide between the rich and the poor.
Secular: There is no discrimination on the basis of religion. All religions are treated equally.
Democratic: The people of India govern themselves through their elected representatives, Elections are conducted at regular intervals and the people can change the government, if they so desire, in the elections.
Republic: The Indian constitution proclaims that the head of state will be elected, and not be a hereditary ruler. Thus we have a president who is elected and has a fixed term of office.
Justice: The Indian constitution strives to ensure an equitable and just society by reducing economic and social inequalities. For example, reservations are given to those who belong to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in educational institutions, government jobs, etc.
Liberty: The constitution gives the citizens the freedom to express their opinion, follow their own path and also choose the occupation of their choice.
Equality: All citizens are considered equal before law. All kinds of discrimination are deemed illegal and therefore punishable by law.
Fraternity: India is a land of contrasts and diversities and home to a myriad faiths, cultures, traditions and languages. To preserve the unity and oneness of India, it is necessary to develop a sense of fraternity or brotherhood among the people of India.
