Constitution Day: Rituals and Ramparts
Image credit X @OmBirla
The Constitution of India has shown depth and flexibility to embrace and enhance contradictions and aspirations.
By MANISH ANAND
New Delhi, November 26, 2025 — Rituals serve purposes of unquestioning devotion. They raise the volume of prayers. In praying, the faithful hopes that miracles will lift dark clouds from their lives.
November 26 is India’s Constitution Day. From President to Prime Minister, from Governors to Chief Ministers, from Chief Secretaries to Police Commissioners, all raise the volume in praise of the Constitution. The statue book has served India well all these years after the British finally decided to pack their bags.
The Constitution of India has shown depth and flexibility to embrace and enhance contradictions and aspirations. The rebel Nagas have been told a number of times that the Indian Constitution can address all of their demands. The Assam rebels also found peace in the depth of the Indian Constitution.
The soul of the Indian Constitution, nursed with grand visions of India’s nation builders, has survived decades of tumult in democratic high waves. The Supreme Court and the High Courts have also raised the essence of the Indian Constitution.
But the same may not be held true for the class of politicians and the bureaucracy. On a day when India again celebrates the Constitution Day, millions suffer damages to their body organs from poison in the air. From children to elders, from the young to the middle-aged, all are equally condemned to cursed life, breathing foul air.
The soul of the Indian Constitution commits to empowering the people in the true sense of parliamentary democracy. Information, transparency, and accountability empower the people to play effective role in the functioning of the parliamentary democracy.
From centre to states, unmistakable trend is to limit scopes of enabling tools that empower the people to raise their stakes in the functioning of the Indian democracy.
Bahubalis contest elections. Governments give doles. Parliament and legislatures amplify governments of the day.
Millions rot in jails, for they cannot afford lawyers to plead their cases. The rich knock at the highest echelon of judiciary when hints of trouble reach them.
The corporate can buy land for ₹1 in the name of promotion of industries. The homeless prays that the promise of homes for all will one day be fulfilled.
Yet the Constitution may be the only saviour of the people. The book is a shield against the worst. It also lights up hope.
(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author only)
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