Constitution, the guiding document to shun colonial mindset and adopt nationalistic outlook: President Murmu

The President released the digital version of the Constitution in nine languages — Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Bodo, Kashmiri, Telugu, Odia, and Assamese. The programme included the reading of the Preamble led by the President.

“The strong arguments given in the Constituent Assembly in favour of adopting the parliamentary system are relevant even today. The Indian Parliament, which expresses public aspirations in the world’s largest democracy, today serves as an example for many democracies around the world,” she pointed out.

The President said the ideals that express the soul of the Constitution are: social, economic, and political justice; liberty, equality, and fraternity.

“In our Constitution, social justice has been given priority. Efforts are being made to promote inclusive development in accordance with the ideals of social justice. Such initiatives include providing reservations to Economically Weaker Sections in educational institutions and employment; enacting and implementing a special Act for differently-abled persons by expanding the definition of the Act; and granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes,” she said.

The President mentioned that by “curbing the social evil of triple talaq, Parliament has taken a historic step towards the empowerment and social justice of our sisters and daughters”.

She also mentioned that steps taken for the economic integration of the country, after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, and added that by repealing the provisions of Article 370, an obstacle that had been hindering the country’s inclusive political integration was removed.

Vice-President Radhakrishnan delivers Constitution Day address in Tamil

The Constitution Day programme was organised at the Samvidhan Sadan of the Parliament on the occasion of the 75th Constitution Day. Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, began his Constitution Day address at Samvidhan Sadan in his mother tongue, Tamil.

Addressing the MPs, Radhakrishnan hailed the Constitution makers, saying that the document reflects the “soul of the nation.”

He said, “Dr B R Ambedkar, Dr Rajendra Prasad, N Gopalaswamy Iyengar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, KM Munshi, Durgabai Deshmukh, and other great leaders made the Constitution in such a way that we see the soul of our nation in each page,” he said.

“Our Constitution was drafted, debated, and adopted by our outstanding leaders of Mother Bharat in the Constituent Assembly. It embodies the collective wisdom, sacrifice, and the dreams of millions of our countrymen who fought for freedom,” the Vice-President remarked.

President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Union Ministers and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, attended the event. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also arrived at Samvidhan Sadan.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also paid a tribute to Ambedkar and to India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad. Addressing the gathering, Birla said, “Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, and to all the members of the Constituent Assembly. Their remarkable wisdom, foresight, and tireless hard work resulted in such a magnificent Constitution, which guarantees justice, equality, fraternity, and respect and dignity for every citizen.”

Samvidhan Sadan, a sacred place: Speaker Om Birla

Referring to the Samvidhan Sadan as a “sacred place,” where the Constituent Assembly deliberated, Birla noted that the governments in the past seven decades have formulated policies to achieve social justice and inclusive development.

“Today, it is our collective goal to make India a developed country by 2047, and this goal will be achieved only when we imbibe the values and ideals of the Constitution,” he said.

Birla said if we follow the Constitution in letter and spirit, we will create an India for future generations that will be an example of development, justice, unity, friendship, and humanity. The Speaker noted that the Constitution is a living document that takes care of the needs of every citizen, and it is our duty to follow the principles enshrined in it.

On November 26, 1949, the Indian Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Constitution, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi marked Constitution Day with a letter to citizens, calling for increased focus on constitutional duties and wider participation in democratic processes.

In his letter, Modi noted that the Central Government declared November 26 as Constitution Day in 2015 to highlight the role of the Constitution in India’s institutional framework. He referred to moments from 2014 and 2019 when he bowed at the steps of Parliament and placed the Constitution on his forehead, stating that these gestures reflected his regard for the document.