https://sputniknews.in/20240815/indias-independence-celebrating-the-constitution-that-ensures-stability--unity-8015377.html
India's Independence: Celebrating the Constitution That Ensures Stability & Unity
India's Independence: Celebrating the Constitution That Ensures Stability & Unity
Sputnik India
The Indian Constitution, drafted after the violent partition that resulted in over a million deaths, anticipated the need to unite diverse groups within the... 15.08.2024, Sputnik India
2024-08-15T13:49+0530
2024-08-15T13:49+0530
2024-08-15T13:49+0530
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On India's 78th anniversary of Independence Day, we recall how British colonialism ravaged a once-thriving civilization for profit: with the East India Company using military and deceptive strategies to overthrow rulers, deplete resources, and undermine industries, that led to widespread exploitation, religious strife, corruption, and the suffering of countless Indians through hunger and famine.The British assertion that their rule was crucial for India's unification fails to acknowledge the country's extensive history of political integration. Historically, empires and dynasties such as the Mauryan, Gupta, Mughal, Vijayanagara, and Maratha worked to unify various regions, demonstrating a longstanding cultural and historical drive for unity that existed before colonial rule. The British, in contrast, intentionally dismantled traditional institutions and fuelled communal discord to maintain their dominance.Habib stressed that the early government confronted major challenges such as poverty, inadequate education, and social fragmentation from India’s partition.Habib highlighted that “despite these difficulties, India achieved notable progress in its early decades through efforts like the Green Revolution and White Revolution, which tackled many problems of hunger and development.”The fundamental rights and duties enshrined in the Constitution were crafted to reflect India's vast diversity, including social, religious, and economic aspects, and were consciously designed to address the challenges and violence of the late 1940s, providing a robust framework for the nation's future.British Atrocities and India's Constitutional Morality: A Legacy of Rebuilding“British atrocities like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the divide and rule policy, and the famine that killed 35 million profoundly shaped the principles of morality and unity in India's Constitution, reinforcing a determination to rebuild that has sustained through political changes and continues to guide the nation's governance and respect for constitutional values,” Manoj Kumar Jha, Member of Indian Parliament and also, the National Spokesperson of Rashtriya Janata Dal told Sputnik India.The Constitution's balance of values, deeply rooted in India’s civilizational ethos, ensures that it is neither right-leaning nor left-leaning but a comprehensive framework embraced by all Indians, the parliamentarian stated.Jha also noted that despite the challenges faced, including the struggle against feudal remnants, India's democratic transition has remained peaceful, underscoring the deepening of democracy as a significant achievement.This stability and democratic resilience, established by leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, Patel, and Ambedkar, have helped India navigate its path from 1947 to the present, where universal suffrage remains a cornerstone of its democratic process, he affirmed.“India's electoral democracy has matured significantly, standing out in its depth and effectiveness compared to many nations, especially in the region,” Jha indicated.Jha asserted that the collective contributions from all societal segments—whether peasants, professionals, or Bollywood figures—have strengthened India’s political unity, aligning with Ambedkar's view that political democracy is incomplete without social democracy, and despite ongoing challenges, the nation continues to advance.“The Constitution, crafted in the wake of the blood-soaked Indian partition i.e. between West Pakistan and East Pakistan, current day, Bangladesh that claimed over a million lives, foresaw the necessity of integrating diverse peoples and groups into the nascent republic, reflecting a spirit akin to Gita's teachings” Hindol Sengupta, an Indian historian, told Sputnik India.Meanwhile, despite skepticism about India’s ability to remain unified due to its diversity, the Constitution’s commitment to principles like "one person, one vote" has successfully transcended historical divisions and reinforced a strong sense of national identity, he added.Ensuring Stability: Impact of Fundamental Rights in India’s ConstitutionSengupta illustrated that while neighbouring South Asian nations struggle with instability, India's robust constitutional framework and deep-rooted cultural unity have enabled its democracy to not just survive but thrive despite regional challenges.Sengupta contended that Hinduism’s role in fostering cultural unity through widespread pilgrimage and its inherent openness has been vital for India's cohesion and political stability amid various challenges.Sengupta pointed out that despite the country's historical feudal structure and ongoing disparities, these constitutional rights ensure that all citizens are recognized as equal under the law, reinforcing the principle that these rights are claimable and integral to the nation's governance.The historian mentioned that despite societal inequalities, the right to vote is fiercely protected and regarded as a key mechanism for expressing citizen voices.India has a remarkable ability to surprise and uplift, even when situations seem stagnant, as demonstrated in the mid-1970s, and our greatest strength is our diversity, which, if protected, allows us to take great pride in our identity as Indians, the parliamentarian concluded.
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india's 78th anniversary of independence day, british colonialism, east india company, military and deceptive strategies, deplete resources, undermine industries, widespread exploitation, religious strife, corruption, suffering of countless indians through hunger and famine, british assertion, india's unification, political integration empires and dynasties, mauryan, gupta, mughal, vijayanagara, and maratha, unify various regions, longstanding cultural and historical drive for unity, colonial rule, british, intentionally dismantled traditional institutions, fuelled communal discord, dominance, india's constitution, liberal ideals and practical governance, political and socio-economic shifts, incorporating principles of nationhood, unity, poverty alleviation, and education, colonial era, irfan habib, indian historian, poverty, inadequate education, social fragmentation, india’s partition, green revolution and white revolution, hunger and development, like nehru, gandhi, patel, maulana azad, and even bhagat singh, fundamental rights and duties, social, religious, and economic aspects, jallianwala bagh massacre, divide and rule policy, famine, morality and unity, india's constitution, manoj kumar jha, member of indian parliament and also, the national spokesperson of rashtriya janata dal, emergency in 1975, the rule of law, india’s civilizational ethos, feudal remnants, india's democratic, nehru, gandhi, patel, and ambedkar, french revolution’s oath of the tennis court, jawaharlal nehru's invocation, indian constituent assembly, democratic ideals, india's electoral democracy, hindol sengupta, indian historian, fundamental rights in india’s constitution, instability, indian constitution's core
On India's 78th anniversary of Independence Day, we recall how British colonialism ravaged a once-thriving civilization for profit: with the East India Company using military and deceptive strategies to overthrow rulers, deplete resources, and undermine industries, that led to widespread exploitation, religious strife, corruption, and the suffering of countless Indians through hunger and famine.
The British assertion that their rule was crucial for India's unification fails to acknowledge the country's extensive history of political integration. Historically, empires and dynasties such as the Mauryan, Gupta, Mughal, Vijayanagara, and Maratha worked to unify various regions, demonstrating a longstanding cultural and historical drive for unity that existed before colonial rule.
The British, in contrast, intentionally dismantled traditional institutions and fuelled communal discord to maintain their dominance.
“India's Constitution, designed with a mix of liberal ideals and practical governance, has upheld democracy through various political and socio-economic shifts, incorporating principles of nationhood, unity, poverty alleviation, and education while being carefully crafted to avoid repeating the exploitation and abuses of the colonial era that lasted for more than 150 years,” Irfan Habib, a renounced Indian Historian told Sputnik India.
Habib stressed that the early government confronted major challenges such as poverty, inadequate education, and social fragmentation from India’s partition.
During the formative decade of the 1950s, the government worked to address these urgent issues, laying the groundwork for many of the values and systems we value today, he argued.
Habib highlighted that “despite these difficulties, India achieved notable progress in its early decades through efforts like the Green Revolution and White Revolution, which tackled many problems of hunger and development.”
However, even as we mark 78 years of independence, the enduring legacy and vision of leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, Patel, Maulana Azad, and even Bhagat Singh—who, even though he died earlier—continue to inspire the nation.
The fundamental rights and duties enshrined in the Constitution were crafted to reflect India's vast diversity, including social, religious, and economic aspects, and were consciously designed to address the challenges and violence of the late 1940s, providing a robust framework for the nation's future.
British Atrocities and India's Constitutional Morality: A Legacy of Rebuilding
“British atrocities like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the
divide and rule policy, and the famine that killed 35 million profoundly shaped the principles of morality and unity in India's Constitution, reinforcing a determination to rebuild that has sustained through political changes and continues to guide the nation's governance and respect for constitutional values,”
Manoj Kumar Jha, Member of Indian Parliament and also, the National Spokesperson of Rashtriya Janata Dal told
Sputnik India.
Jha highlighted that during the Emergency in 1975 and in recent years, people have consistently turned to the Constitution as their ultimate safeguard against authoritarian measures, reflecting its foundational role in upholding the rule of law.
The Constitution's balance of values, deeply rooted in India’s civilizational ethos, ensures that it is neither right-leaning nor left-leaning but a comprehensive framework embraced by all Indians, the parliamentarian stated.
Jha also noted that despite the challenges faced, including the struggle against feudal remnants, India's democratic transition has remained peaceful, underscoring the deepening of democracy as a significant achievement.
This stability and democratic resilience, established by leaders like Nehru, Gandhi, Patel, and Ambedkar, have helped India navigate its path from 1947 to the present, where universal suffrage remains a cornerstone of its democratic process, he affirmed.
Jha likened this to the French Revolution’s Oath of the Tennis Court, referencing Jawaharlal Nehru's invocation of this historical event to highlight the seriousness and dedication with which the Indian Constituent Assembly approached its task, thus ensuring a commitment to democratic ideals.
“India's electoral democracy has matured significantly, standing out in its depth and effectiveness compared to many nations, especially in the region,” Jha indicated.
Jha asserted that the collective contributions from all societal segments—whether peasants, professionals, or Bollywood figures—have strengthened India’s political unity, aligning with Ambedkar's view that political democracy is incomplete without
social democracy, and despite ongoing challenges, the nation continues to advance.
“The Constitution, crafted in the wake of the blood-soaked Indian partition i.e. between West Pakistan and East Pakistan, current day, Bangladesh that claimed over a million lives, foresaw the necessity of integrating diverse peoples and groups into the nascent republic, reflecting a spirit akin to Gita's teachings” Hindol Sengupta, an Indian historian, told Sputnik India.
Sengupta mentioned that this forward-looking approach has significantly contributed to India's unity, with the Constitution serving as a crucial adhesive amid attempts to fracture it, complementing the deeper civilizational bonds that also play a vital role in maintaining cohesion.
Meanwhile, despite skepticism about India’s ability to remain unified due to its diversity, the Constitution’s commitment to principles like "one person, one vote" has successfully transcended historical divisions and reinforced a strong sense of national identity, he added.
Ensuring Stability: Impact of Fundamental Rights in India’s Constitution
Sengupta illustrated that while neighbouring South Asian nations struggle with instability, India's robust constitutional framework and
deep-rooted cultural unity have enabled its democracy to not just survive but thrive despite regional challenges.
Sengupta contended that Hinduism’s role in fostering cultural unity through widespread pilgrimage and its inherent openness has been vital for India's cohesion and political stability amid various challenges.
The enshrinement of fundamental rights and duties in the Constitution “has been crucial for maintaining social and political stability in India,” he noted.
Sengupta pointed out that despite the country's historical feudal structure and ongoing disparities, these constitutional rights ensure that all citizens are recognized as equal under the law, reinforcing the principle that these rights are claimable and integral to the nation's governance.
The Indian Constitution's core value of equality is essential for a nation with entrenched feudal elements, and this, coupled with a strong emphasis on voting rights, has been key to fostering democratic change and stability in India, he affirmed.
The historian mentioned that despite societal inequalities, the
right to vote is fiercely protected and regarded as a key mechanism for expressing citizen voices.
Sengupta noted that even in 2024, despite pre-election claims of manipulation, the results demonstrated that India's elections remain among the most transparent and fair globally, highlighting the Constitution's strength in ensuring that political parties respect the outcomes, regardless of which party is in power.
India has a remarkable ability to surprise and uplift, even when situations seem stagnant, as demonstrated in the mid-1970s, and our greatest strength is our diversity, which, if protected, allows us to take great pride in our identity as Indians, the parliamentarian concluded.
