Evaluating India’s Constitutional Journey
The 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution prompts reflection on its foundational values.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 1949 address highlighted the challenges ahead, urging citizens to prioritize the country over personal beliefs.
The Constitution’s journey must be reassessed to guide India’s future and safeguard its core values.
Federalism and Constitutional Issues
Recent debates focus on India’s federal structure, with tensions between State governments, Governors, and Parliament.
Issues like simultaneous elections, regional language equality, and fiscal federalism remain contentious.
Although India follows a federal framework, the word "federal" is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
The Constitution’s basic structure includes federalism, as confirmed by key Supreme Court rulings.
Social Democracy and Inequality
Questions remain about whether India has matured into a true social democracy based on liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Critics argue the country has become a police state, with laws like sedition and anti-terror statutes challenging democratic freedoms.
Dr. Ambedkar emphasized addressing social and economic inequalities to preserve democracy, but caste-based discrimination and inequality still persist.
While progress is ongoing, the Constitution’s goals are still far from fully realized.
The Need for Constitutional Guardians
Calls to replace the Constitution with an "Indic" document based on Hindu dharma are seen as disrespectful to the vision of the Constituent Assembly.
India must defend its democratic principles and preserve the Constitution as it is.
Clear-headed guidance is needed from constitutional guardians—judges, politicians, bureaucrats, activists, and citizens—to protect and uphold the Constitution’s promise.
COMMENTS