This refers to the article, “Constitutional vision for a better India” (August 3) by Ajoy Kumar. Many believe that India was a land of justice and a far better place to live. India cannot progress if we have such a backward pull in our mindsets.
Our Constitution is a result of thousands of years of evolutionary progress of humankind since the days of the Mahabharata. So, it is quite natural that the spirit of the Mahabharata will come into conflict with the Constitution of India, which is based on the ideals of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice.
For example, Dronacharya, a great figure of the Mahabharata, should have been arrested in Republic India for cutting the right thumb of Eklavya as tuition fees.
Will the code of the Mahabharata promote the status of womenij When women of the elite families could have been pawned in a game of chance in those days, it can easily be understood what the status of common women was in those days.
Instead of realising the ideals of our Constitution, we are giving awards to sports coaches in the name of Dronacharya, an example of what a coach should not be. This shows that it is still miles to go for us to give due honour to our Constitution.
The need of the hour is to follow Ambedkar's path of “educate-agitate-organise” to clear the cataracts of prejudices to have a constitutional vision for a better India.