The Preamble of worlds longest written constitution which belongs to worlds biggest democracy goes like this -
"WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a 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 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."
Its not just the preamble but the life and soul of the country. These are the principles on which Indian forefathers wanted to run the country. The ideals which developed during the colonial struggle against the Britishers for long 200 years. Through these ideals they wrote a constitution that can achieve cherished goals in all the latitude and longitude of human sphere.
Each word has its history in Indian context. Each date has a significance for this land. Many lines of this preamble took years, decades and even centuries to develop to its fullest. And it was their vision and wisdom that this country (which I consider still a nation in making) is thriving as a vibrant democracy.
Decisions were hard to take, given the economic, geopolitical and domestic circumstances. They knew that India is a mosaic of languages, cultures and ethenicities, not simply tolerating each other but accepting and harmonizing all the diversities as a part of composite whole. Yet they chose India as a modern state created upon ancient civilization and a secular one created upon profoundly religious society.
Some people called it the biggest gamble of 20th century. Many made obituraties of its balkanisation like Yugoslavia and Chekoslavia. But to the wonder of all it survived and thrived against all the odds. India hobbled with conflicts (both external and internal) at times. But absence conflicts (A Utopian notion) is a time impossible to reach and hence the maturity of society is to be measured not by absence of conflict but the capacity to resolve it. In which India did wonders with only a few exceptions.
It was Indian constitution which is a ransack of most of the worlds established democracies of the time (1940's) and acted a light house in the case of dead locks among institutions. It acted a watch dog against the wrong doing not only in legal aspect but also in moral aspect. It grew with time and changed itself as and when time required. It is still the most sacred holy book for all nationalist and patriots and this 26th January is its 67th birthday!
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