Constitution is nation’s identity: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday asserted that the Constitution is the cornerstone of the nation’s identity, as also the guiding document to shun a colonial mindset and adopt nationalistic thinking.

Addressing the Constitution Day event at the Central Hall of the Old Parliament building, now called Samvidhan Sadan, she also said the Indian Parliament, which expresses public aspirations in the world’s largest democracy, now serves as an example for many democracies around the world.

The president said the Constitution is the document of the country’s national pride and the text of the national identity.

“It is a guiding text for taking the country forward with a nationalist mindset by abandoning the colonial mindset,” she said.

Murmu said with this spirit and keeping in mind the social and technological developments, important legislations related to the criminal justice system have been implemented.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, based on the spirit of justice rather than punishment, have been implemented, she noted.

The President said India’s parliamentary system, reflecting public expression, has become stronger in various dimensions and the success of the Constitution’s faith in public wisdom through the provision of adult franchise is lauded in many other countries.

She said by moving forward in accordance with the constitutional system, India’s executive, legislature and judiciary have strengthened the development of the country and given stability and support to the lives of its citizens. “The members of both Houses of Parliament have not only taken our country forward but have also developed a healthy tradition of deep political thinking. In the coming eras, when comparative studies of various democracies and constitutions will be conducted, Indian democracy and Constitution will be described in golden letters,” she said. Murmu described the members of parliament as the bearers, creators, and witnesses of the glorious tradition of the Constitution and democracy.

She expressed confidence that under the guidance of Parliament, the resolve to make India a developed nation will definitely be fulfilled.

The president said the strong arguments given in the Constituent Assembly in favour of adopting the parliamentary system are relevant even today.

The president said the increased turnout of women voters over the past few years has given special social expression to the country’s democratic consciousness.

“Women, youth, the poor, farmers, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, people from disadvantaged sections, the middle class, and the neo-middle class are strengthening our democratic system from the Panchayat to Parliament,” she said.

The President said the ideals that express the soul of the Constitution are social, economic and political justice; liberty, equality, and fraternity. On all these dimensions, MPs have actualised the visions of the Constitution-makers, she said.

The president said that as a tangible testament to the success of the parliamentary system, now India is rapidly progressing towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

The president also released the digital version of the Constitution in nine languages- Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Bodo, Kashmiri, Telugu, Odia and Assamese.

The programme included the reading of the Preamble led by the president. Besides her, those seated at the dais included Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh.

Several union ministers and MPs from both houses of Parliament attended the event. A commemorative booklet on calligraphy in the original Constitution was also released.

In his address, Vice President Radhakrishnan urged everyone to work together towards achieving the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’, and asserted that the soul of our Constitution has proved that Bharat is one and shall remain so forever.  He also called upon the public representatives to adopt dialogue, debate and discussion to serve the people’s rightful aspirations.

Asserting that democracy is not a new concept to Bharat, as history reveals that democracy existed in places like Vaishali in the north, while Chola rulers adopted the “kudavolai” system in the south, Radhakrishnan said, “That is why we call Bharat the Mother of Democracy.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Birla said India will become a developed country by 2047 if the Constitution is followed in letter and spirit.

He said after long deliberations, the framers of the Constitution adopted the key document on this day in 1949, paving the way for India to become a vibrant democracy. The Speaker noted that the Constitution is a live document, which takes care of the needs of every citizen, and it is our duty to follow the principles enshrined in it.

“This central chamber of the Constituent Assembly is the sacred place where our Constitution was shaped after intense discussion, dialogue and deliberation. The aspirations of the people were captured in constitutional provisions...,” Birla said.

“It is through the profound wisdom, prudence, foresight and tireless hard work of our Constitution makers that we have been blessed with such a magnificent Constitution, which guarantees justice, equality, fraternity and respect and dignity for every citizen,” Birla said.