India
became a Republic on January 26, 1950 on promulgation of the Constitution of
India. The day is celebrated as the Republic Day, a national holiday. I take
this opportunity to congratulate my fellow citizens and wish them a Happy
Republic Day.
January
26, Republic Day, is an important day in the journey of
contemporary India. We
have come a long way in this journey. It is a matter of great satisfaction, to
my mind, that in spite of many problems pertaining to religious and cultural
diversity and caste ridden society and also illiteracy and poverty, the constitution
could withstand and face the challenges and succeeded in guiding us in our
“tryst with destiny”. It is a tribute to
our founding fathers, particularly to Babasaheb Ambedkar, father of the Indian
constitution. In commemoration of the constitution, Government of PM Narendra
Modi rightly decided to observe November 26 as the Constitution Day. “We the
people of India” enacted, adopted and gave ourselves the constitution in the
Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. Some of the speeches and
interventions made by the MPs both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were worth
listening to rededicate ourselves to the lofty ideals and philosophy enshrined
in the constitution.
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| Republic Day Parade at Rajpath at New Dehi |
Of
late, some of the issues of importance and concern which
engaged the attention
of the governments, the political parties and the civil society really require
in depth debate and decision to meet the challenges in the journey of the
Indian Republic. Let us try to find and identify these issues. Two such issues
emanate from the preamble of the constitution – the words secular and
socialist. In their own wisdom, and I think rightly so, the constitution makers
did not include these two contentious words in the preamble. They justified
their conscious thinking, particularly by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who piloted the
constitution and replied to the debates, on the subject. There was no problem.
The provisions of the constitution amply made the Indian Republic secular and
socialist in spirit without the mention of these words. Subsequently, the
Government of PM Indira Gandhi inserted these words in the preamble by an amendment
in 1974 recommended by the Swaran Singh Committee. It was a shortsighted
decision, according to many constitutional experts and political scientists and
practicing politicians and administrators. Till date, these two words i.e.
secular and socialist remain symbols of contention generating avoidable heat
and strife in the polity and society. Let us admit and accept that India is a
secular and socialist state and should remain so. We are a pluralistic society
of social, religious and cultural diversity. There is no other way but to
remain secular and socialist with a sense of “unity in diversity”. The principles of state policy stipulated in
the constitution are equally important as fundamental rights. Implementation of
these principles will help in establishing the socialist and egalitarian spirit
of the constitution. The goals of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity so
thoughtfully visualized could only be achieved if the society comes out of the
manuwadi mindset and endeavors to bring about a casteless society on one hand
and fair treatment of the minorities and other marginalized segments of the
society. There is no need to invoke the majoritarian point of view. There has
been a long debate on intolerance recently. We shall mend our thinking and
allow a sense of accommodation and understanding to prevail. No more Rohith
Vemulas should be compelled to commit suicide. There is no place for narrow
nationalism and re-writing of history. The question of reservations for the
socially and educationally neglected sections of the society, particularly
dalits should be addressed with compassion and understanding. We must
understand these suppressed people have suffered social and political tyranny
for centuries. It will take some time to bring them at par with the rest of the
society. The claim to merit sounds very good but let us first provide a level
playing field and equal opportunity and also equal economic leverage to these
marginalized people and then talk of merit. They are no more ready to keep
bearing the burden of manuwadi system of graded inequality. On the political
front, we are a democratic country and that too the largest democracy of the
world. But the political parties and the politicians, it seems, could not stand
up to the expectations and requirements of a sound and pragmatic edifice which
is needed to sustain the system. Our political outfits could not evolve and
bring about polarization of political forces on the basis of ideology and
programme. There is no difference among the parties like SP, JDU, RJD, NCP, TMC,
BSP, among others. Only names are different. All of these have a limited and
narrow agenda with self centered people at the helm. The regional parties like
DMK, AIDMK, Akali Dal, BJD, Shiv Sena, National Conference, LJP etc. tend to
generate and support divisive fissiparous tendencies which go against the
underlying current of unity. Is it not possible to contain these political
outfits to their respective regions? I don’t know how it could be done. But I
think that these regional parties may not be permitted to contest Lok Sabha
elections. It will bring in much needed stability and cohesion at the centre.
In any case the views and representation of the states is assured in the Rajya
Sabha. Last but not the least, it will be in order, if some guiding rules and
directions to stage and demonstrate democratic public protest, are made. Right
from the tehsil level to districts and the state capitals and also the national
capital at New Delhi, some places and venues may be identified and fixed for
such protests. There is no harm in regulating these erratic activities which
put the common man to unnecessary inconvenience and damage to public property
and peace. Babasaheb Ambedkar rightly warned that there was no place for
unconstitutional methods to express democratic protest and disagreement. He
termed it as “Grammar of Anarchy”. The same regulations may also be applicable
to religious shoba yatras and processions. These tend to generate unnecessary
social heat leading to tension and avoidable violence. These are some of the stray
thoughts which could be considered to make our Republic glorious and a happy
place to live.
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| Flag hoisting at Siver Residency at Jalandhar |
With
this let me close by quoting the worries of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which he
expressed on November 26, 1949 in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly.
He said, “On the 26th January, 1950, India would be a democratic
country in the sense that India from that day would have a government of the
people, by the people and for the people. The same thought comes to my mind.
What would happen to her democratic constitution? Will she be able to maintain it or will she lose
it again? This is the second thought that comes to my mind and makes me as
anxious as the first.” Let us put at rest the anxieties expressed by our
forefathers by adhering to the constitution and constitutional methods to
safeguard and ensure further progress and prosperity of our country.
TAILPIECE:
Quote
On Republic Day, the Tricolour will be unfurled
by our President in the national capital, by Governors in the state capitals,
by Collectors in their district headquarters. The national anthem will be
played or sung to salutes given and taken. “Jai Hind” will resound across the
country in varying tones of patriotic self-persuasion.
But what should drown all these sounds and
sights is “Jai Bheem”, the two-word salutation with which Rohith signs off his
‘letter’.
Does it invoke Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar? Of
course it does. Does it castigate our times? Of course it does. Does it speak
for Dalit India? But of course!
Unquote
Extract from an article from The Tribune of
January 26, 2016 written by Gopal Krishan Gandhi, Professor of History at
Ashoka University
