When will the social system of the country accept the constitutional values?

The basic basis of the dignified life and development of the people of any independent country is the constitution of that country. A country is implemented and governed by the rules described in the constitution. Like different countries of the world, the document that runs our country is the ‘Constitution of India’. Even though it was made in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days, but in reality the foundation of this constitution was laid when the Indian society started opposing British slavery and centuries of exploitation, crime and slavery.

By Satish Bhartiya

At the same time, the extreme extent of British slavery made the people of the country stand up to protect their natural rights and human values. In such a situation, that time also came in 1947, when the nation became independent. After this, the constitution was made to build a great country. In such a situation, the freedom, equality and other natural rights which the Indian society had been demanding for centuries. Those natural rights were enshrined by the framers of the constitution in the preamble of the constitution along with other constitutional values like liberty, equality, justice, fraternity, dignity of the individual. At the same time, when the Indian Constitution came in the form of a document in totality. Then the core of the entire constitution was seen in the preamble of the constitution. In such a situation, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, said about the Preamble that, “It was really a way of life, which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as principles of life and which cannot be separated from each other.” May go,,

In fact, other constitutional values like liberty, equality, justice, fraternity, dignity of individual as enshrined in the constitution form the basis of our living. But, it is noteworthy that, after 75 years of independent India, to what extent were we able to accept the constitutional values? And how much awareness could be done towards constitutional values? Perhaps less than indispensable.

In today’s era, even after the glow of development deepens, we get to hear and see in the country that a Dalit is not allowed to ride a mare in a marriage ceremony. In such a situation, sometimes even a fierce fight takes place. Due to which a crisis arises on the constitutional values like justice and fraternity of the people.

We tried to know some similar experiences from the people of the deprived community of Sagar district regarding the violation of constitutional values.

Then Makundi Bansal of Sagar, who belongs to Scheduled Caste, tells that, we have definitely become free, but we feel that we are bound in the chains of slaves because of such profession of upper caste people in our village. They don’t allow our bridegroom to sit on the horse, the upper caste people get angry when they wear nice clothes, don’t say Ram-Ram to the upper caste people, don’t sit on the ground in front of them. We have to listen to abuses for not following the social rules. It is worth pondering here, why constitutional values like the dignity of the person of people like Makundi are not taken care of?

Then, the Bihari Adivasis of Banda Assembly Constituency narrate like this, “We are not fed respectfully when we go to eat at the places of people who consider themselves superior. We are not treated kindly.

There, “When big people call us for wages and we don’t want to go, we have to listen to abuses. In such a situation, sometimes we even get beaten up.,, Isn’t there a violation of constitutional values like social justice here?

Next we spoke to Arbind Bansal. Then they say that social inequalities prevail in rural areas in such a way that the barber of Sen community does not cut the hair of SC people. This is how we go to Banda tehsil to get our hair cut. That is, he himself cuts the hair of his head at home. When asked, Aurobindo says that the barber does not cut our hair because there is pressure from upper caste people on the barber. Upper society imposes social restrictions on barbers and SC people for cutting hair of SC people. The condition of not cutting the hair of the Scheduled Caste people is prevailing in many villages of the Banda area. Aurobindo’s love reminds us that when will we follow the constitutional value like equality?

Next we met Princess Balmiki of Bara village. The princess is forced to live in a kutcha house even after the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The princess tells us, “We are a low caste in the village, so no one gives us good employment. Even today our employment is limited to sweeping the road, making baskets, making small household items. If we open a good food shop in the market then we are socially boycotted.

Next we come face to face with Shalkram Chowdhary of Karevna village. He says that, in our village, we do not allow the low caste people to even drink tea, nor do they allow them to sit on the tea stall. Even today there is no equality in the society in independent India.

A recent incident also came to our notice from Chhatarpur district of Sagar division. This incident is of stone pelting by the upper caste people while a Dalit was thrown from his horse. In fact, the Dalit groom was being escorted by the Raj Police to the wedding ceremony. But the upper caste people did not like it. In such a situation, they pelted stones at the wedding party, in which three policemen were injured. Police has taken the matter into its cognizance. Do such incidents not indicate that the constitutional value of freedom of the people is in danger?

It is worth considering that, on one hand, our constitution has various constitutional values like freedom, equality, justice, which make people aware of the protection of their rights and duties by making them dutiful citizens. On the other hand, they are social values, which create obstacles for a human being to become a human being. Like, other social values like casteism, untouchability, social discrimination, bad practices, unnecessary traditions and customs. The spirit of Basudhaiva Kutubankam is to be communicated, then we have to promote the firmness of other constitutional values like freedom, equality, justice, then in many ways the country will be able to move towards social, economic, educational and other development.

Satish Bhartiya is a freelance journalist and fellow at Vikas Samvad Parishad. Satish is currently doing ground reporting on land disputes in India.

Courtesy : Dalit Dastak

Note: This news piece was originally published in dalitdastak.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights