Opinion Om Birla writes: On the journey to Viksit Bharat, our ideal guide is the Constitution

The Constituent Assembly began the momentous task of constitution-making for a large, diverse, postcolonial nation on December 9, 1946. After intensive deliberations and scintillating debates in the Central Hall and numerous committees spanning two years, 11 months, and 17 days, the Assembly bequeathed to the nation a Constitution considered one of the most enlightened and people-centric.

The Constitution of India was not drafted in the confines of the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan alone. The founding mothers and fathers had the vision and sagacity to open the doors and windows of the Constituent Assembly to not only the breeze of ideas and experiences flowing from other constitutional democracies, but also to the thoughts and dreams of countless Indians who wished to contribute to the process of constitution-making. Thus, the Constitution was moulded and guided as much by the knowledge and wisdom of the members of the Constituent Assembly as by the insistent participation of millions of citizens who, through their petitions, letters, memoranda, pamphlets addressed to the Assembly and outpourings in the press, sought to participate in an exercise they considered their own, and whose outcome they hoped to influence.

Very early in our modern constitutional history, the people of our nation, living in different parts of the country and under diverse socio-economic circumstances, asserted their stake in what was to be acclaimed as the foundational governance document of a modern democratic republic. The wide public approbation at the time of its creation and adoption is perhaps at the root of our Constitution’s sustainability. It has not only survived but has earned ever-growing adoration with the passage of time, often in the face of vicissitudes a young nation was made to confront in the postcolonial world.

The Constitution embodies the fire and spirit of our freedom struggle and the depth of understanding of our nation’s history and ethos among our Constitution-makers. It also reflects their careful assessment of the experiences of other democratic nations, coupled with a willingness to adapt and embrace the most appropriate ideas.

Our Constitution is thus firmly grounded in the universal principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. These principles course through the entire text of this document. Considered one of the world’s most comprehensive written constitutions, it originally contained 395 articles, divided into 22 parts and eight schedules; this has now expanded to 472 articles, 25 parts and 12 schedules.

The text is revered because it guarantees unalloyed and uncompromising justice to all citizens. It has embraced and celebrated the diversity of our land, providing dignity to all, and giving every citizen the self-confidence to actualise their own dreams. It has recognised the disabilities that large sections of our population have faced over the centuries and made special provisions to address these historical injustices. The Constitution has also provided legal space for many of our tribal communities to preserve their unique cultures and socio-political structures. The constitution-makers also realised that for the Constitution to remain relevant as a guide, it would need provisions for need-based amendments in the future, while protecting its core principles and values. The 106 amendments to our Constitution are thus an eloquent testimony to our nation’s ability to adapt to manage emergent challenges.

From granting universal adult franchise in 1950 to providing for progressive judicial interpretations of rights, the Constitution has been instrumental in fostering inclusivity, empowering marginalised communities and promoting gender equality. Its provisions for social and economic justice have shaped landmark initiatives, including affirmative action policies for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The provision of linguistic, cultural, and religious protections underlines its commitment to fostering fraternity.

The Parliament of India has been working tirelessly to meet the needs and aspirations of people belonging to all strata of society. It has been a vehicle of social engineering and has enacted transformative legislation to bring about social change. The Constitution is thus an ideal guide to take India forward as an atmanirbhar and self-confident Viksit Bharat by 2047.

India’s economy is growing at an unprecedented scale and is poised to become the world’s third-largest in the near future. The rule of law is fundamental to our national life and the key determinant of sustained social and economic growth; it informs every piece of legislation our Parliament and state legislatures enact. This is reflected in each enlightened policy of our executive and in each erudite legal determination that our watchful judiciary makes on law, policies and citizens’ rights.

The Constitution is thus not merely a legal document but a moral framework for governance that guides the nation’s democratic ethos. It imposes a sacred duty upon all the organs of the state to be true to constitutional values and provides a firm nudge to be sensitive to the interests and aspirations of the people.

I, along with countless Bharatvasis, pay my respects to the Constitution of India, which I hold as a sacred document. It is not to be seen through the narrow prism of politics. The Constitution belongs to every citizen of this nation, irrespective of caste, class, religion, gender, region or language. As we continuously strive to become more just, equitable, progressive and a Viksit Bharat, it becomes imperative to reflect on this day, on the Constitution and the values it has espoused, and honour the efforts of its framers by committing ourselves to upholding with even greater vigour the principles that have been at its core.

The writer is Speaker of the Lok Sabha