At the stroke of midnight hour when the world sleeps let INDIA arise to respect for every gender and pay heed to the duties which every citizen should perform regardless of caste, creed, sex or social status.Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution of India are enforceable by law. While all of us keep harping about our rights, we must not forget that we also have specific Fundamental Duties to perform.
Blowing the bugle of rights is not enough if we forget to give due diligence to the Fundamental Duties as citizens.The duties which often lie in oblivion.On the eve of Independence let’s take a brief look at the Duties which are mentioned in PART IV A, Article 51A as Fundamental Duties.
It shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of universal brotherhood among all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation steadily rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
Let the morning of Indian Independence begin, with a solemn pledge towards fulfilling these duties in our respective lives.The true value of Independence lies in enjoying the freedom and rights without being complacent of our duties towards the motherland.