Bharat at 76: Time to Reclaim the Original Spirit of the Republic

INTRODUCTION: 76 YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC

This January 26 will see Bharat completing 76 years as a sovereign democratic republic.

It was on 26 January 1950 that the nation became a sovereign republic as Parliament adopted the Constitution drafted and finalised by the Constituent Assembly, which included many stalwarts from the fields of law, social science, economics, administration, arts and literature.

THE CONSTITUTION: PRAISED, CRITICISED, AND CONTROVERSIAL

Sir Ivor Jennings, the British-born constitutional expert who later became Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, described our Constitution as too long, too prolix and too rigid. The founding fathers did not take this criticism seriously, and many legal luminaries dismissed his observation as immature.

Later events, however, proved that the Constitution of India is clumsy, opaque and vulnerable to manipulation to suit the convenience of rulers of the day. Fali S Nariman, constitutional expert, described the Indian Constitution as a 1,46,385-word tome in his book You Must Know Your Constitution.

THE PREAMBLE CONTROVERSY: SOCIALISM AND SECULARISM

It is time the Government changed the words socialism and secularism in the Preamble of the Constitution.

The original Constitution adopted on 26 January 1950 had no reference to these two terms. They were inserted during the Internal Emergency in October 1976, without any debate or discussion. At that time, the entire Opposition leadership was imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency period from June 1975 to March 1977.

There was no justification for adding these words.

The word secularism means freedom from religious influence. It implies that religion has no role in governance. It is not known what special interpretation Indira Gandhi had in mind while inserting this word.

The word socialism means State ownership and represents a political ideology. Its presence in the Constitution creates a paradox when the same Constitution guarantees liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. If one believes in capitalist ideology, does that person lose the liberty of thought and expression?

FOUNDING FATHERS VS LATER ALTERATIONS

The founding fathers debated these issues and consciously decided not to include these words. It is difficult to believe that, after twenty-five years, Indira Gandhi suddenly realised their necessity.

The Nehru-Gandhi clan had hidden motives behind tampering with the Preamble. Perhaps they wanted only subservient entrepreneurs and industrialists to thrive. Those who opposed the clan learned harsh lessons and were forced into submission.

WHO BENEFITS FROM ‘SECULARISM’ ?

The word secularism has been used to appease minorities. Christians and Muslims enjoy special privileges in this so-called secular country, while Hindus are relegated to second or third class status.

Hindu temples were taken over by the government and are administered at the whims of political rulers. Ancient Veda Patasalas attached to temples, which taught Vedas, Upanishads, Ayurveda, astronomy, astrology, engineering, metallurgy and advanced sciences, were dismantled after Independence.

Islamic rulers ruled the subcontinent for nearly 1,000 years and annihilated Hindus, yet their descendants continue to enjoy official patronage.

RESERVATION: RELIGION AND CASTE OVER MERIT

Descendants of former Presidents Zakir Hussain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed continue to enjoy concessions because they belong to the Muslim community.

The reservation system is unscientific and unreasonable. Employment and education based on religion and caste instead of merit is absurd.

In Tamil Nadu, 69 per cent of seats are reserved. Meritorious students from forward communities are denied opportunities, while candidates with mediocre academic records secure seats and jobs due to caste identity.

This system should be buried at the earliest.

MANDAL COMMISSION: A FLAWED FOUNDATION

The Mandal Commission Report was accepted for vote-bank politics. Prof R Vaidyanathan, former professor at IIM Bangalore, in his book Caste as Social Capital, proves that its assumptions were fundamentally flawed.

Based on British surveys between 1822 and 1825, thousands of schools and colleges existed in Madras Presidency, with a majority of students belonging to Shudra communities. Brahmins formed only a minority.

Mandal Commission used 1931 census data and overestimated OBC population at 50 per cent, whereas Prof Vaidyanathan estimates it to be closer to 32 per cent.

DANGERS OF QUOTA IN SENSITIVE PROFESSIONS

Reservation must be restricted only to the truly needy. The day is not far when quotas will be demanded even in defence, aviation, scientific research and crime investigation.

The medical profession has already suffered. Patients have returned with surgical instruments left inside their bodies in government hospitals. People now fear asking whether their doctors belong to reserved categories.

We are playing with human lives.

LOSS OF GURUKULA AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Where are the Gurukula system and Veda Patasalas today?

Socialist ideology destroyed India’s ancient knowledge systems. Research in Ayurveda and traditional sciences is discouraged. Those who speak in favour of Ayurveda are branded as Hindu fundamentalists.

The 2015 Indian Science Congress episode, where Captain Anand Bodas spoke about Vaimanika Shastra, exposed how Indian science has been hijacked by a cartel of so-called scientists.

CALL FOR A HINDU REPUBLIC

India should be declared a Hindu Republic and renamed Hindustan.

More than 80 per cent of the population is Hindu. Muslims have Islamic republics. Christians have the West as their spiritual centre. Only Hindus have no Hindu nation.

Attacks on Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh rarely provoke international outrage. India must declare that any attack on Hindus anywhere in the world is an attack on India.

DISTORTED HISTORY AND FORGOTTEN HEROES

The real history of India must be taught, including Mughal and Islamic atrocities.

The sacrifices of Chapekar brothers and countless freedom fighters are forgotten, while only one political family is glorified.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HINDUS

Though the Constitution promises equality, Hindus are discriminated against. Minorities can manage their institutions freely, but Hindus cannot.

Hindus do not demand special privileges, only equal rights.

THREAT TO SANATANA DHARMA

Bishop Baselios Marthoma Mathews III claims Hindus are intruders into India and Christians were the first settlers. Such statements challenge Sanatana Dharma and insult India’s civilisational roots.

India’s progress lies in empowering Hindu society and declaring Bharat a Hindu Republic. The destiny of India must be decided by Hindus, not by late arrivals to this civilisation.

CONCLUSION

Bharat at 76 stands at a crossroads. Either it reclaims its civilisational identity and constitutional integrity, or it continues down a path of distortion, discrimination and division.

EOM : Kumar Chellappan