"WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY, of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the 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."
Sounds familiar? Yes, it does! We've read it many times in our Social Science textbooks. And today, the 26th of January,2013 marks the completion of 63 years of coming into force of the Constitution. The journey of India as a nation, as a republic hasn't been a smooth one. There have been troubles, there have been difficulties. But yet, we are on the path of progress! We are developing and we are getting better! Yes, we don't have to be ruled by outsiders, we elect (or perhaps select ) our own government. We have our rights and we have our duties.
But I'm still not satisfied. Something still pricks me when I read the Preamble. Have we as a nation really adopted the constitution?
We are a Secular nation, but still violence in the name of religion exits. Yes, we have become better with our attitude towards people of other faiths, but still even a little incident is enough for us to be angered all over again. And we prefer to be called a democracy where the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. But the definition of democracy seems to have undergone a change over time and has become "A government of a few people, for a few people and by a few people". When we elect our leaders, we expect them to work for our progress but our most of our politicians today do not realize that with power comes great responsibility. For them it is only power that matters. That's why governments tumble, and unity seems way too far! But we can't blame them entirely for it, after all it's we who elected them or perhaps not. Where did we find time to vote in the previous elections?
Our constitution assures us of justice- social, economic and political. But most of the time, the assurance of justice is delayed and common man is still found running from pillar to post for that justice. And most of the times, Justice delayed is Justice denied! We have liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, but still there are problems if we express what we truly feel. So better to keep our mouths shut, right? Equality is still a far away concept! The rich remain rich, the poor remain poor! Women still remain the weaker sex (Or may be second class citizens as well). And it's only the rights we are bothered about. Do we care to fulfill our duties to the nation? Are we then a republic?
There are problems and yet we have overcome a few of them. India is a developing nation still! But can't we try to make it developed? I am proud to be an Indian, proud of the fact that ours is the lengthiest, written and the best constitution. But I would be more proud if the Constitution would indeed become a guiding light and would serve it's purpose to the best and that the work of the founding fathers of our constitution would not be in vain!
Wishing all of you a Happy Republic Day! Hope we individually take the responsibility of making our nation better!
Jai Hind!
