26 November National Constitution Day.

November 26, 2017, it is a simple date as any other date but it’s importance is more than that. 26^TH November is celebrated as NATIONAL CONSTITUTION DAY.

Constitution is not a mere Lawyers Document, it is a vehicle of life, and it’s spirit is always the spirit of age.

On this day in 1949 the Constituent assembly adopted the constitution of India. National Constitution Day is also known as Samvidhan Divas. The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi made the declaration on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of B.R Ambedkar Memorial in Mumbai.

Constitution Day is not a public holiday. Various departments celebrated the first Constitution day. As per the Department of Education and Literacy, the preamble of the constitution was read in all schools by all students.

Talking about preamble of our Constitution, ie,

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 26th day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

This is the brief description on the constitution Day but the issue which we want to rise today is what is the importance of Constitution day? As Constitution is regarded as base of all laws and all the fundamental rights and duties and many more rights are given to us by constitution, but are we utilizing it properly?  Talking about preamble of India, it is the basic document which every Indian should know, although efforts have been made regarding them as it has been published in every N.C.E.R.T books but as a common people if we ask to a farmer that what is preamble and constitution, the answer will be no. It is obvious that he’s illiterate but who have the  duty  to make him aware of this. So, then what is the utilization of constitution, it’s preamble and fundamental rights. Earlier it have been decided by Supreme Court that preamble should be displayed at public places, in all schools, colleges and people should be made aware of that but I don’t think it is happening properly and if it is happening, it’s pace is  very slow as we don’t see any ground level positive result of this.

The preamble is based on the Objectives which were drafted and moved in the Constituent Assembly by Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946, but I don’t think that it’s objective is been satisfied fully now-a-days.  Till now, every citizen should be aware of their rights and duties but they can’t utilize their rights properly, should not be forced by any law to execute their duties, until then the objective of constitution can’t be satisfied.

Anyways, Happy National Constitution Day.

Author of this Article is not a Law student nor he’s any relation with Legal background although he’d tried to put some  light on Constitution Day.

His effort as a common man  is appreciable.

Atul Kumar

Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.