Former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Friday said the Constitution drafted under the leadership of Dr B R Ambedkar had kept India united over the past seven decades despite numerous external threats and internal challenges, while enabling the country to progress towards development.
Speaking at the launch of two Marathi books, Smart Nagarik and Vidyarthi Prerana, aimed at promoting constitutional awareness among students of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools, Gavai said India's democratic resilience was rooted in the constitutional principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.
He emphasised that individual freedom must be exercised responsibly and should not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others. The former CJI also highlighted the importance of instilling constitutional values, fundamental duties and democratic awareness among young citizens.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐
Reflecting on India's journey since the Constitution came into force in 1950, Gavai said the country had undergone significant political, social and economic transformations over the past 76 years.
He pointed out that India had faced external aggression as well as internal disturbances, including insurgency and militancy, but had continued to remain united and pursue development.
"There were external attacks....there were internal challenges like insurgency, militancy....against this backdrop, there is something that we should be proud of -- our country did not just remain united but moved towards development," he said.
Gavai contrasted India's democratic journey with political and social upheavals witnessed in neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"We have seen the situation in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan....We saw what happened in Sri Lanka. Against this backdrop, the credit for keeping the citizens of our country united goes to our Constitution," he said.
The former CJI credited Ambedkar and his colleagues involved in drafting the Constitution for establishing the institutional and democratic foundations that had helped preserve India's unity.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐' ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐
Highlighting the constitutional principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, Gavai said the three values were fundamental to the functioning of a democratic society.
He cautioned that the exercise of individual liberty should not come at the expense of another person's freedom.
"While every individual has the right to freedom, it must not infringe upon the freedom of others," he said.
The former CJI stressed the importance of equal treatment irrespective of a person's social or economic background.
Invoking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an inspiration for the principle of equality, Gavai said dignity and opportunity should not be determined by wealth or social status.
"Equal treatment is important, whether a person is from a slum or whether he is a rich man. A billionaire's son can go to London for education, but a poor man's son cannot," he said.
His remarks highlighted the need to ensure that educational opportunities were accessible to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ ๐'๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐
Gavai praised the Mumbai civic body's initiative to send 50 academically talented students to Singapore for a special educational course.
He said such programmes could help bridge the gap in opportunities available to students from different economic backgrounds.
The former CJI also welcomed the publication of Smart Nagarik and Vidyarthi Prerana, which are intended to familiarise BMC school students with constitutional values, democratic institutions and civic responsibilities.
He said civic education should extend beyond classroom lessons and help students develop into responsible and socially sensitive citizens.
"We used to have civics as a mere subject. However, conceptualizing how to actively mould students into sensitive citizens is a highly commendable idea that should be emulated," Gavai said.
He described the initiative as a meaningful effort to make constitutional education more relevant to students' everyday lives.
The former CJI emphasised that awareness of constitutional rights must be accompanied by an understanding of fundamental duties and responsibilities towards society.
He said initiatives that encouraged young people to appreciate equality, democratic participation and respect for others could contribute to strengthening the country's constitutional culture.
Gavai's remarks placed particular emphasis on the role of education in preserving the values that have sustained India's democratic institutions since Independence.