The Preamble was introduced by our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Lal Nehru as the Objectives Resolution in 1947, laying the foundation of a strong, united and inclusive Union of India, without any discrimination. Heralding the philosophy of our esteemed Constitution, the preamble was put forward even before the Constitution came into being, on November 26, 1949, laying the guidelines for a Utopian – a socio-economical, political culturally perfect – state of India. But, today, pertaining to the recent scenario of the government, does this ideology and preamble, as a whole stay valid?
The terms ‘Sovereign’, ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, ‘Democratic’, ‘Republic’ in the Preamble suggests the nature of the state while the ideals of ‘Justice’, ‘Liberty’, ‘Equality’, ‘Fraternity’ reflect the objectives of the Constitution.
The Independence of India, earned through struggle for freedom, is sought to be emphasised by the use of the word ‘Sovereign’ in the Preamble. But isn’t the sovereignty of autonomous institutions, be it the Judiciary, Central Bureau of Investigation, Reserve Bank of India, Central Vigilance Commission juggling in the hands of the so called ‘Sovereign’ Executive, who are murdering their independence?
Gandhian ideals were secured by the incorporation of the word ‘Socialist’ in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment, hence establishing public ownership over private one, or capitalism. But, don’t we know how the country is hanging on a rope between the two ends, since Independence and after the New Economic Policy 1991? With the emergence of LPG reforms, hasn’t the balance completely tilted towards the latter? Things are certainly changing without making much noise.
Another gift of the Emergency in 1975-77 Amendment was the addition of the word ‘Secular’ in the Preamble. The father of our Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar had also said that “Indians today are governed by two different ideologies. Their political ideal set in the Preamble of the Constitution affirms a life of liberty, equality and fraternity. Their social ideal embodied in their religion denies them.” And today, when policies, citizenship, education, milk giving animals, upcoming infrastructure and monuments revolve around a particular religion, and not forgetting the Hindutva ideology in trend, can we really meet our political and social ideals at the same time?
The question that now arises – was the 42nd amendment in the Preamble in 1976 even needed, and since it was never repealed like the other changes that happened in our Constitution simultaneously in the same amendment, do these two terms in the Preamble even hold any relevance at all today?
The word ‘Democratic’ was one term added to harmonize with all of them. After all, we are the largest one in the world echoing with Lincoln, “For the people, by the people, of the people.” But does “the people” include all, or just the few selected in the chairs, slowly moving towards an authoritarian state, just like Gangrene quietly spreads in a body?
The word ‘Republic’ indicates that India has an elected head, though indirectly elected. Hence, the Indian President is the choice of the people of India but at the cost of being a puppet (today and always).
‘Justice’ – social, economic and political – and ‘Liberty’ of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship are to be secured through the provisions of Fundamental Rights. But with evils like Preventive Detention, Sec 124A IPC (Sedition), AFSPA, when the FRs of the citizens are only in peril, how can we even expect the enforcement of Social Justice and Liberty? Forget about the non-enforceable Directive Principles of state policy then.
‘Equality’ of status and opportunity stands no chance with the ones in manual scavenging and agrarian part of the economy being ignored at all times; and still in the 71st year of our Independence, politicians are concerned about cows, language and names.
‘Fraternity’, assuring the dignity of the individual, and unity and integrity of the state can be well imagined with the way the states are torn apart with regionalism in terms of religion, rivers or migration. Let’s just not get mob lynching, rape or conservative thoughts in this progressive society to question the former part of this objective.
Today, as we head towards the 69th celebration of our supreme document, the Constitution, instead of having a ritualistic celebration as a national holiday, shouldn’t we, as aware citizens, hold an opportunity to criticize the present scenario of the document and question ourselves – are we really living in the country our Constituent Assembly really dreamt of? Or as Pt Jawaharlal Nehru dreamt of the ideal of ‘Freedom to be free’ and laid it through the objectives as in The Preamble. Is it a reality or just a myth?