The Fundamental Duties of the Citizens, on the Soviet lines, was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, and subsequently modified and expanded in 2002 to account for the child's Right to Education. Based on the recommendation of the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee in 1976, it is the 'other' non-talked about half of the fundamental rights, however intrinsically linked.
According to Article 51A, it shall be the duty of every Citizen of India:
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years (86th Amendment)
Contextualization
While the Swaran Singh committee recommended making these duties legally enforceable, the government decided to make them instead the citizen's equivalent of Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy, which essentially 'guides' without enforcing the moral lines of the Government's policy-making). A sad reality is however emergent, yet definitely not powerful enough to suppress these ideals. Historically speaking, the Indian demography had been the pinnacle of humility and unity. Figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Swami Vivekananda, Maulana Azad, and more are still revered worldwide not because of ulterior motives, violence, herd-mentality, hedonism, blind faith, etc, but because of their ideals. While they had always been enshrined in the Constitution under various provisions, such as the Fundamental Rights enforceable against state and citizens alike, the Fundamental Duties should serve as a reference to every citizen of the nation in all walks of their lives, enforceable in conscience against ourselves. However, has that really been the case?
(b) refers not to the limited violence our forefathers undertook, but many, many years of growing unity, humility, competence, and most importantly, the 'Satyagraha' that encompassed the world's most unique struggle for Independence.
(c) Is not just about parliamentary sovereignty, neither is the unity about mere borders. They are about the integrity of the nation, for which every citizen and the government are equally accountable.
(e) No one is alien to, regardless of the side, to the troublesome rise of communal tendencies in India. It will be however, extremely ignorant to say this is anything new, or conversely to think that it not being new is not a major issue.
India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic, comprising hundreds of languages, all major religions, races, and classes; a nation built from the very beginning on Universal Adult Franchise and a vision of complete equality of the sexes. The women of India had always been the torchbearers of our ideals and struggle for freedom and post-freedom reforms.
(h) Perhaps the most important one to be embedded in the mind is our duty to fight blind faith and orthodox religiosity and to keep an open mind to the ideas and suggestions of others, while constantly introspecting our own with reason as the sole basis of judgement.
(i) Non-violence has been synonymous with India post-independence, with India inspiring many Asian and African nations to fight for their freedom post-independence. However, the age of misinformation has led to a spike in the violent tendencies of the youth and a massive spike in the number of hate crimes registered.
(j) Refers to the need for constant self-improvement and introspective growth, chasing excellence and competence instead of hedonism and conformity. While India never shies away from producing people brilliant in their fields, the increasing ratio of addiction to the use of destructive internet facilities like Instagram along with things like lack of modesty and reliance on drugs and alcohol are all on the rise. These all invariably lead to mental health issues and slowly but surely ruin personal and national potential.
A Hopeful Reminder
India has been and always will be a miracle. While all the major Western thinkers and papers had prophesized the Balkanization of India and its impossibility to hold together as a Federal Union as soon as its Independence, it has unquestionably been the humble and united population of India which had sustained its unbreakable Unity in Diversity despite many ups and downs. After 75 years of Independence, it is thus imperative to acknowledge our duties to the nation which compels us to act not like mere Soviet-like subjects of the State, but like bricks holding together this massive temple that is India.
.
Comments