Part IV A of the constitution , inserted by 42nd amendment. It fits well into the constitution , especially if you observe Article 51 of the constitution is for promotion of International peace and security. As Shri. Narayan Murthy mentions with title of his book ' Better India , Better World'. So if we follow our Fundamental duties well then India as a Nation state and the World both will be much better places to live in.
Nothing is stated whether these are legally enforceable or not. But commonly experts say that they are not enforceable. But Parliament have powers to make laws to ensure duties to be followed and there are several legislations ( e.g. Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971).
Now , article 51 A - note that whenever new articles added through amendments original sequencing is kept intact with use of suffixes. As it grows organically with time , needs of our time , constitution is termed : A Living Document. And one of three organs of State ( राज्यसंस्था) and so a creation of constitution- Judiciary is given responsibility to interpret the meaning of words, clauses and sub- clauses of articles.
The constitution is the funadamental law of the land. As it is fundamental law of the land that means within the territory of India all acts of government ( statutes) , rules & regulation, rules and by-rules, resolutions and activities of Executives ( includes officials and politicians) , even of Legislatures( MPs, MLAs, MLCs, even legislators at local levels in Panchayati Raj Institutions) , Judiciary and citizens have to act within and in accordance with the framework laid down by the Constitution. So this is not new, we followed religious scriptures , maybe we have not amended them through popular discourse. That is a drawback of Monarchy ( राजेशाही) , that influential rulers and class mend the rules suiting their interests. And as rulers were patrons they could always cover up with some benevolent activities here and there and it took time to understand fallout of such rules mended. Now Democracy as we accepted this form quite naturally through our freedom struggle provides opportunity to have your say when rules are being framed. For instance so much fuss about UGC and proposed HECI , but every bill before it becomes act is put in the public domain (on govt. websites) so that citizens can suggest changes, modifications, improvements etc. So proposed HECI bill was open for public consultation from June 27 - 20 July 2018 and approximately received 10000 suggestions. We seldom get to know these things , but why wait for change to occur, we need to be more aware as these legislative processes affect our daily lives , maybe you are not enrolled in Higher education now, but maybe your relatives, in future offsprings they have to face whatever decisions were taken some years back. So it is necessary to be alert and aware. One might think that already 10000 suggestions are there why burden government with few more? You don't need to worry or have excuses. With Big Data, data mining etc even when volume of suggeations will increase they can certainly be handled with the use of technology.
And we had constituent assembly as representative of people and every article is put to test through thorough debate and when each and every mwmber was convinced then and then that article was enshrined in the constitution. That meant consesus was key( members include representatives of all hues & colours) , and consesus was put to test through voting on clauses , sub-clauses . So when some articles exist in constitition , it is wrong to colour them as 'right wing agenda' .
So getting back to Article 51-A. We will read it now.
It shall be the duty of every citizen of India-
See how it opens up. It is assertive obligation for every citizen of India to follow these duties. Every citizen of India, EVERY irrespective of caste,creed,religion,sex or any other secatrian or sub-national identity. Every one of us- CITIZENS. But have we understood or ingrained that we are citizens. Then why other identities flare up tensions between us. I am not asking too much. You always cite examples of other Nations ( e.g. Japan, South Korea, Finland etc) If that is possible to have high civic sense in that part of the world , why can't it be here? It is posaible here also. Believe and start what can you do for that, what can we do for that.
Some people are too pre-occupied with European History and any activity , effort to spread love for Nation i.e Nationalism - they try to link with ultra nationalism of Hitler and Mussolini , but that is not the case here. When people raise themselves to a level of National idenity over sub-national or sectarian identities , how can it be narrow? There is no global government , so at times internationalism is just an eyewash while serving your narrow vested interests , dear Mr. Internationalist :).At times such internationalists overlook National Interest , we must understand that Nation state system is consolidated now, even ISIS and all terror outfits should understand that they are fighting a futile war and misleading lives of several youths.
May be when technology improves so drastically that we have very fast mobility across the world then we can think of global governance. For now global commons like climate change issues require cooperation among Nations. So for considerably forseeable future Nationalism cannot be narrow.See we used words that people raise themselves , so here is no factor of coercion involved. Efforts to convince , persuasion to embrace broader and multiple identities in harmony with each other that is required and is our responsibility to lead our society.
Also like other identities have some broader cohesive unit with varying degree of cohesion. 'Citizen ' necessarily links itself to Idea of ' Statecraft'. So in whichever form our State exist , citizen have to deal with processes asaociated with it. We have democracy as ' Statecraft' . It's nature is nicely described in preamble to the constitution. So we need to understand how democracy works. Yes many of us underatand including illiterate ones surpriaing the observers world over. But it's time to deepen our understanding and why? We are proud of history. No problem , but we stuck into past and past statecraft and ideas related. So feudaliatic tendencies still exist, Maay-baap Sarkar ( nurtured during British era and perpetuated through high handed officialdom) still exist in one or other form with varying degrees from places to places. And that degree depends much upon awareness and attitude ( awareness is necessary but not sufficient; right kind of attitude bhi chahiye). So we will see more about our fundamental duties, funda for harmony.
Stay tuned, Stay positive!
Nothing is stated whether these are legally enforceable or not. But commonly experts say that they are not enforceable. But Parliament have powers to make laws to ensure duties to be followed and there are several legislations ( e.g. Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971).
Now , article 51 A - note that whenever new articles added through amendments original sequencing is kept intact with use of suffixes. As it grows organically with time , needs of our time , constitution is termed : A Living Document. And one of three organs of State ( राज्यसंस्था) and so a creation of constitution- Judiciary is given responsibility to interpret the meaning of words, clauses and sub- clauses of articles.
The constitution is the funadamental law of the land. As it is fundamental law of the land that means within the territory of India all acts of government ( statutes) , rules & regulation, rules and by-rules, resolutions and activities of Executives ( includes officials and politicians) , even of Legislatures( MPs, MLAs, MLCs, even legislators at local levels in Panchayati Raj Institutions) , Judiciary and citizens have to act within and in accordance with the framework laid down by the Constitution. So this is not new, we followed religious scriptures , maybe we have not amended them through popular discourse. That is a drawback of Monarchy ( राजेशाही) , that influential rulers and class mend the rules suiting their interests. And as rulers were patrons they could always cover up with some benevolent activities here and there and it took time to understand fallout of such rules mended. Now Democracy as we accepted this form quite naturally through our freedom struggle provides opportunity to have your say when rules are being framed. For instance so much fuss about UGC and proposed HECI , but every bill before it becomes act is put in the public domain (on govt. websites) so that citizens can suggest changes, modifications, improvements etc. So proposed HECI bill was open for public consultation from June 27 - 20 July 2018 and approximately received 10000 suggestions. We seldom get to know these things , but why wait for change to occur, we need to be more aware as these legislative processes affect our daily lives , maybe you are not enrolled in Higher education now, but maybe your relatives, in future offsprings they have to face whatever decisions were taken some years back. So it is necessary to be alert and aware. One might think that already 10000 suggestions are there why burden government with few more? You don't need to worry or have excuses. With Big Data, data mining etc even when volume of suggeations will increase they can certainly be handled with the use of technology.
And we had constituent assembly as representative of people and every article is put to test through thorough debate and when each and every mwmber was convinced then and then that article was enshrined in the constitution. That meant consesus was key( members include representatives of all hues & colours) , and consesus was put to test through voting on clauses , sub-clauses . So when some articles exist in constitition , it is wrong to colour them as 'right wing agenda' .
So getting back to Article 51-A. We will read it now.
It shall be the duty of every citizen of India-
See how it opens up. It is assertive obligation for every citizen of India to follow these duties. Every citizen of India, EVERY irrespective of caste,creed,religion,sex or any other secatrian or sub-national identity. Every one of us- CITIZENS. But have we understood or ingrained that we are citizens. Then why other identities flare up tensions between us. I am not asking too much. You always cite examples of other Nations ( e.g. Japan, South Korea, Finland etc) If that is possible to have high civic sense in that part of the world , why can't it be here? It is posaible here also. Believe and start what can you do for that, what can we do for that.
Some people are too pre-occupied with European History and any activity , effort to spread love for Nation i.e Nationalism - they try to link with ultra nationalism of Hitler and Mussolini , but that is not the case here. When people raise themselves to a level of National idenity over sub-national or sectarian identities , how can it be narrow? There is no global government , so at times internationalism is just an eyewash while serving your narrow vested interests , dear Mr. Internationalist :).At times such internationalists overlook National Interest , we must understand that Nation state system is consolidated now, even ISIS and all terror outfits should understand that they are fighting a futile war and misleading lives of several youths.
May be when technology improves so drastically that we have very fast mobility across the world then we can think of global governance. For now global commons like climate change issues require cooperation among Nations. So for considerably forseeable future Nationalism cannot be narrow.See we used words that people raise themselves , so here is no factor of coercion involved. Efforts to convince , persuasion to embrace broader and multiple identities in harmony with each other that is required and is our responsibility to lead our society.
Also like other identities have some broader cohesive unit with varying degree of cohesion. 'Citizen ' necessarily links itself to Idea of ' Statecraft'. So in whichever form our State exist , citizen have to deal with processes asaociated with it. We have democracy as ' Statecraft' . It's nature is nicely described in preamble to the constitution. So we need to understand how democracy works. Yes many of us underatand including illiterate ones surpriaing the observers world over. But it's time to deepen our understanding and why? We are proud of history. No problem , but we stuck into past and past statecraft and ideas related. So feudaliatic tendencies still exist, Maay-baap Sarkar ( nurtured during British era and perpetuated through high handed officialdom) still exist in one or other form with varying degrees from places to places. And that degree depends much upon awareness and attitude ( awareness is necessary but not sufficient; right kind of attitude bhi chahiye). So we will see more about our fundamental duties, funda for harmony.
Stay tuned, Stay positive!
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