We, the people...

26/11. A date we will never forget to remember. I don’t need to tell anyone why. It’s the day on which India’s sovereignty was challenged by 10 maniacs who came in from a neighbouring country. And for the next 60 hours we all kept asking the same question – Anahoot Atithi!!!!! Tum KAB Jaoge?
However, if I may dare refresh the memories of the reader (who I assume is better read than I am), it also holds a very significant place for India. For those of you who would like to know the reason, please take time to read the following para(s) from a very famous book.
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a
1[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
2[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.”
You got it right. This is THE book I refer to here, and that is the Constitution of India. The very basis of Indian Governance.
It is very disturbing that many people do not realize that the magnitude of 26/11 is many times larger than The Taj or the Oberoi hotels and also than one particular entity currently cooling his heels in Mumbai.
Interestingly, the Indian Constitution happens to be the largest written Constitution in the world. It is of little surprise that most of the Indians do not even know that there are 400+ articles and twelve schedules in the book. The US Constitution on the other hand has about 7 articles and UK has no written Constitution at all.
Our ignorance of the Constitution denies us many privileges, while it helps the corrupt and inefficient practices to continue. However, knowing the Constitution means also being responsible to it and honouring it.
How many people e.g. are aware of all the rights that they have? Also are they aware that the fundamental rights are justiciable? Further, the Indian Constitution provides for a set of principles that ought to be taken into consideration at the time of policy formulation by the Govt. known as the Directive Principles of State Policy. Taking advantage of lack of awareness of people, the politicians, their babus, their clerks and even the peon sitting right outside the minister’s room take the general people for a ride.
Having said that, I would also like to mention those people who are in the habit of flouting rules, damage public property, spread rumours, sit back and relax till injustice has happened to them directly and light a cigarette in the middle of roads. The Constitution of India provides for a set of Fundamental Duties which is a way of the framers of Constitution to say – ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ It should be our responsibility to respect the Constitution and strive to be better citizens. Additionally there are many interesting other facts in there too.
Generally if people were aware of the Constitution and the underlying principles, I am sure there would be a change. And that is what is needed – a sea change. Else the politicians would keep taking advantage of the ignorance and lack of awareness among the citizens and the helpless citizens will keep suffering.