Fraternity

B R Ambedkar wrote that the drafting committee had included a clause on “fraternity” in the Preamble because “the need for fraternal concord and goodwill in India has never been greater than now” while complying with the Draft Constitution to the President of the Constituent Assembly, Rajendra Prasad, on February 21, 1948.

What is Fraternity?

According to the Preamble, fraternity ensures human dignity and national integrity. The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 inserted the term “integrity” into the Constitution.

The phrase “dignity of the individual” means that the Constitution not only assures material advancement and sustains a democratic system but also acknowledges that each individual’s personality is precious.

“National unity and integrity” refers to the psychological and geographical components of national integration.

Article 1 of the Constitution refers to India as a “Union of States” to emphasise the Indian Union’s indestructibility by stating that the States have no right to separate from it.

Its purpose is to remove national integration impediments, including communalism, regionalism, casteism, and secessionism.

Separating one from the other weakens democracy’s primary goal, liberty, equality, and fraternity form a trinity.

Fraternity for the People

Fraternity is derived from the French term fraternité, which means brotherhood, friendship, community, and collaboration (Asthana 1992: 118). Ambedkar placed a high value on fraternity in all of these ways when creating India’s Constitution.

He defined fraternity as “a sentiment of mutual brotherhood among all Indians—if Indians are considered as one people.” It is the principle that gives social life its unity and solidarity.” “Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no more than a coat of paint,” he believed. “Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural flow of events,” he stated. To enforce them, a constable would be required.

According to the Constitution, fraternity is a vital source of confirming “the dignity of the person” and the “unity” of the nation. The former is achieved by acknowledging people’s moral equality, maintained via mutual respect, notwithstanding our differences in religious belief, language, culture, tradition, caste, colour, ethnicity, class, and gender.

What Is The Meaning Of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, And Justice?

Liberty

Democracy is intrinsically tied to the notion of liberty for a free and civilised living; every member of society should enjoy fundamental rights. Freedom of faith, thought expression, belief, and worship are defined as essential rights in the Preamble. This freedom is specifically protected in the chapter on Fundamental Rights, with some limitations; after all, if democracy is to thrive, liberty must not descend into anarchy.

Equality

The State is prohibited under the Fundamental Rights to discriminate against citizens solely on the grounds of caste, race, sex, or religion. All citizens have access to public spaces, titles of honour have been abolished, and untouchability has been eliminated, among other things. The rule of law will triumph: all people will be treated equally before the law and protected equally by the state’s rules. Political equality is ensured by the concept of a universal adult franchise, which allows, at least in theory, any citizen to participate in the government process. Economically, those with the same skill set and job experience are entitled to the same pay. Individual or collective exploitation is to be eliminated.

Fraternity

Only a feeling of brotherhood, of togetherness, among the people of the nation will allow a democratic government to work properly. Because India is such a diverse country, the idea of togetherness — a sense of belonging to one nation – is even more important. On the other hand, Fraternity is impossible without preserving and respecting each person’s dignity. In order to maintain this dignity, each individual must be guaranteed some basic justiciable rights. The Directive Principles have been developed to ensure that an individual is free from want and suffering – without which freedom, ideals of self-respect and dignity are useless – calling on the State to use its policies to benefit all people equally in supplying appropriate food.

Justice

Social, economic, and political justice is mentioned in the Preamble. Discrimination based on birth, caste, race, sex, or religion should be abolished under the principles of social justice. In matters of official appointment, all people should be treated equally. Economic justice entails bridging the wealth gap and ending exploitation. Poverty will be abolished not by removing assets from those who already have them but by ensuring a more effective allocation of resources and wealth among those who helped build them. Political justice implies that all citizens should be able to participate in the political system on an equal basis. One vote per individual is guaranteed, regardless of caste, sex, religion, and ownership.

Conclusion

The term ‘fraternity’ refers to a feeling of brotherhood and an emotional attachment to a country and its people. It is a sense that makes you feel as if everyone comes from the same soil and is connected. Brotherhood is a tie that spans caste, age, and gender; it is a bond that transcends societal traditions and boundaries. Fraternity helps the dignity and cohesion of the nation.