Lost in the
Celebration: Let’s internalize the Republic Day Distinctly To Usher In Egalitarian
Society
Date:- 28 January, 2008
By Praful
Sakya
THE Independence Day was the day when we
got freedom from the
THE Republic-Day celebration has become
some sort of ritualistic. As a part of exuberant jubilation three forces viz.
Army, Navy and Air Force along with the Police and other authorities come out
in the Public to show the Nation's Power, particularly Military Might,
Scientific and Technological achievements and the self-professed rich dynamic
and vibrant cultural diversities all over the country. And on the Top of it
all, the President of India, personally comes out to lead the Nation in
hoisting the National Flag and salute it as it flutters high in the blue sky.
Lost in the celebration, the soul of the day, 26 January, the Republic Day.
TWENTY Sixth January is a D Day in Modern
India. On this Day, in the Year 1950, the Constitution of Free India came into
full Operation, and the Indian Union, became a Republic. The Constitution
formally adopted earlier on
IT is a Liberal Constitution. It is a
very modern Constitution. It is a very clearly written Constitution, minus
ambiguities. It grants Equality to Underclass. It guarantees Protection to all
Minorities. It assures Security of Life and Property to all Weaker Sections. It
asks to build bridges of opportunities to almost all Backward Classes. It
offers Equal Employment to every Marginalized. It ensures Education for all,
especially the SCs&STs. And there reflects the humanistic-thinking-colorful-contours
of its writer the Great Messiah of the Underclass, Baba Saheb Dr B R Ambedkar.
THE Indian Constitution is one of the
largest written Constitutions, drafted after the path breaking and epoch-making
French, American and Russian Revolution.
It also came after Industrial Revolution in
NO celebration is bad provided it is
celebrated in the right spirit and the days like republic-day that defines the governing
principals of the nation, then recognizing its far reaching impact on shaping the
psyche of the nation one should not waste this day but to utilize it, to the
fullest, for furthering the cause of all inclusive-equality. Instead of brandishing
the military might and the military-warfare and equipments those are mostly purchased
from the developed nations, can’t we emphasis only and only on the disseminating
the basics features of the constitution amongst the Indian public. There is
nothing wrong in showcasing the progress of the nation but who says it’s bad to
promote the principals of humanity? Why not on every republic day just to put
on display those scientific and technological equipments which are indigenously
built. Or can’t this also be done on the day of
LET’S reserve the Republic Day only for promoting
the basic features of the constitutions. Let’s put on display the real
humanistic-might and humane-face of the nation- the constitution. The ingenious
and indigenous product conceived, designed and devised by Dr. B R Ambedkar out of
the aspiration of the young nation that should basically commit for building
the nation based on equality. This is an Important Day for every Indian,
particularly more so for the Underclass. It is one of the important steps, in
the long and almost endless march of the Underclass, for Justice, Freedom,
Liberation, Growth, Development Employment, Education and Equality. It should
not happen that the celebration of the republic day be done just like any other
anniversaries. It is the duty of every Indian to work towards the realization
of the Aspirations of the Hundreds of Millions of Toiling Masses, the Dreams of
Founding Fathers of the Nation and Framers of the Constitution to make this
Country, vibrant, egalitarian, dynamic, just and fair. The republic day
celebration necessarily meant to end the blatant still continuing
discriminations of the helpless minorities, backwards, and Weaker Sections.
THE Constitution has been made by Indians
for Indians and their government. When we gave ourselves such a beautiful
constitution, let’s explore its real beauty. Sovereignty of the Nation lies
with the People. In fact it is the People, who give the Rights to others, to
all Institutions - public and private - every individual in the Country,
Citizens or not, and to themselves. We the people embody all the power. We can
act as agents of change. We provide specific Directions to government,
Political Parties and their Members, who come forward to represent the nation,
form the government, and help Govern the Nation. In nutshell it’s our
prerogative to shape the character of the nation. And it’s long been thought that
this nation should have gutsy and unshakable egalitarian character.
TO achieve this on every Republic day the
president should collectively gives pledge to Indians for abiding by the
constitution. As part of Republic-day celebration president should read out the
PREAMBLE and the RIGHTS & DUTIES OF INDIANS. Lets there be public participation.
PREAMBLE
WE,
THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute
JUSTICE
social, economic and political;
EQUALITY
of status and opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY
assuring the dignity of the individual and 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.
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES AND
RIGHTS
DUTIES OF INDIVIDUALS
The Duties of individual Citizens of India
have been laid out in Article 51A, Part IVA of the Constitution, as Fundamental
Duties. These were not there in the
Original version of the Constitution framed and adopted by the Constituent
Assembly. These were inserted by the
Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act passed by the Parliament in
1976. Those read as –
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
It
shall be the duty of every citizen of
v
To
abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National
Flag and National Anthem;
v
To
cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our National Struggle for
Freedom;
v
To
uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of
v
To
defend the Country and render National Service when called upon to do so;
v
To
promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of
India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities;
to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
v
To
value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
v
To
protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers
and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
v
To
develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
v
To
safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
v
To
strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
so that the Nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and
achievement.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The
Fundamental Rights are contained in exclusive Part III of the
Constitution. They are the –
v
Right
to Equality – Articles 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
v
Right
to Freedom – Articles 19 to 22
v
Right
against Exploitation – Articles 23 and 24
v
Right
to Freedom of Religion – Articles 25 to 28
v
Cultural
and Educational Rights – Articles 29 and 30
v
Right
to Constitutional Remedies – Articles 32 to 35
Rights
have no meaning at all, unless one can force those others, or authorities or
the government to give the Rights being denied, withheld or delayed,
deliberately or otherwise, to yield and give the rights. Let there be effective
mechanism to ensure everything is followed with a clinical precision.
Jai Buddha, Jai Bhim, Jai Bharat
Praful Sakya