Political Philosophy of Indian Constitution

The reflection of the preamble is the result of a vision of great leaders who sacrificed and solemnly dedicated themselves to the nation. Eventually, India emerged into a social, secular, sovereign, democratic, and republic country, giving liberty to express views and opinions on any subject of interest. Ensuring the equality of opportunity and maintaining harmony among the public is the preliminary duty of the great philosophy of Political India. The responsibilities and the leaders’ initiatives are given in the  Polity Class 11 (Part 2): Political Philosophy of Indian Constitution to make students conscious of the eminent Indian constitution.

It is difficult to describe this philosophy so simply in one word, as it won’t be justified in a single word or label due to it’s it is liberal, democratic, egalitarian, secular, federal and open to community values with a commitment to build a single national identity for all. An identity committed to freedom, equality, social justice, secularism, and forming a national unity for everyone. There is a clear emphasis on peaceful and democratic measures to embrace this philosophical practice to its best. 

Individual Freedom:

• It has been an outcome of continuous intellectual and political activity that was taking place for over a century, after which the Political Philosophy of the Indian Constitution came into the picture. Assuring the dignity of every individual and retaining secularism by integrating the nation to standby and confront every happening is the absolute privilege
• At the start of the 19th century, Rammohan Roy had protested against the curtailment of the freedom of the press from the British colonial state. Roy’s argument stood firm, and he said that a form should be responsive to the needs of individuals and must provide them with their requirements as communicated. That is why the state should permit unlimited liberty for news and publication
• The right to freedom, its expression from arbitrary arrest, is one of the most integral reasons noted that after every forty years before the adoption of the constitution occurs, every single scheme, resolution, report of the Indian National Congress, and the bill should mention individual rights as a non-negotiable value

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Social Justice: 

The liberalization of the Indian constitution doesn’t mean that it is liberal only in the classical western way. But it is to be noted that classical liberalism will always privilege the rights of every individual over the demands of social justice and community values. 

The liberalization and Political Philosophy of the Indian Constitution is segregated into two different versions given below.

Always linked to social justice: 

The provision of this reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes in our constitution. The granted right to equality wasn’t enough for the people to overcome the year-old prejudice such as castisim, racism etc.. 

Special constitutional measures to advance their interests: 

The constitution-makers of this country were given special measures to protect the SC and ST communities from reserving the seats in legislatures. The constitution also made the government receive public sector jobs for such groups. 

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Respect for Diversity and Minority Rights

• The maintenance of unity among the Indian Constitution, minority rights, and equality between the communities wasn’t an easy task for India because the communities never had the same quality of relationship and always had hierarchical patterns. Ensuring dignity, freedom to express & explore, and social justice is the main objective of the ideal constitution and its laws. They do not see each other as equal and happen to become rivals due to religious and community issues, which raised the need for minority rights
• Recognition of community-based rights: People who belong to different communities have their values, traditions, customs, and language shared by their members. All of this made it imperative for our Constitution to understand and give community-based rights
• Every person belonging to a different community has to respect other religions, communities, and their rights. The right of religious communities to have their educational institution was also given; such institutions receive money from the government

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Secularism

• The language “Secular” was not mentioned initially, but the Indian constitution was always very secular. The concept of secularism means there will be a mutual exclusion of state and religion to protect India’s values, freedom, citizenship, and other rights
• The maker of constitutions had to work upon an alternate concept of secularization as the conditions and situations in India are different from others. We left from the western model, heading for two ways with two different groups
• Federalism: Indian Federalism is the relationship between the state and centre government. The constitution of India divided the legislative, executive and administrative power amongst the state and union government.  It was evident after they introduced the Article about North-East (Art.371), where the Indian constitution anticipates the very important concept of asymmetric federalism
• Under Article 371A, a special status and privilege were given to the people of Nagaland. India is a multi-lingual federation as each state and community has its language and should be politically recognized to be treated equally. That is why India’s democratic and linguistic federalism has managed to combine the claims and unite for cultural recognition

National Identity

• The constitution has been consistently reinforcing a common national identity for everyone. This common national identity will not hinder different religions and language identities. The Indian constitution was trying to balance out all these various identities and ensure minority rights
• A preference was given to create a common identity for everyone under particular conditions that have been clarified over several debates by the electorates based on religious identity, but the constitution rejects it every time. The separate electorates were rejected as they could endanger a healthy national life which is given in the Polity Class 11 (Part 2): Political Philosophy of Indian Constitution. Our constitution sought to evolve truly as a fraternity, and Sardar Patel’s main objective was to evolve as a “one community”, the main objective of the Political Philosophy of the Indian Constitution

Conclusion

On January 26, 1950, India turned republic by drafting the eminent constitution to provide equal opportunities to all citizens irrespective of discrimination based on colour, caste, and income. It incorporates the feeling of secularism, evoking the responsibility towards the nation, and abolishing poverty with essential parameters like socialism, sovereignty, and independence. An Ideal government runs on the above philosophies and laws by great leaders, which would bring in an unblemished and gleeful nation when put into the right practice.