‘Our Constitution is a living document’

PNS|Vijayawada

The 73rd Constitution Day celebrations were held at the Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) auditorium on Friday, organised by Dr BR Ambedkar Chair of the university in association with Dr. BR Ambedkar Foundation, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. RP Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary to Governor, participated as the chief guest and delivered the keynote address.

Speaking on the theme ‘The Philosophy of Indian Constitution’, Sisodia said that the Indian Constitution is often called a living document as it is amenable to amendments to suit the changing needs of the society and the people. He said generally the Constitution is taken for granted by the people as they run their affairs smoothly, without knowing the efforts that went into making the Constitution.

Citing the example of the neighbouring country that gained freedom along with India, he said that they could bring out their Constitution only after nine years, whereas the Indian Constitution was adopted just within three years after independence. He said that the Constitution of the neighbouring country was not on the same footing as India, as they made and abrogated it a number of times, and amended it to the extent of changing the form of the government itself.

Sisodia said that our Constitution is the source of the power that we all enjoy today as the Constitution guarantees the Fundamental Rights to all its citizens, on the lines of our ancient principles like ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, ‘Satyameva Jayate’, ‘Sarva Jana Hitaya’, ‘Sarva Jana Sukhaya’, etc.

He further added that the Parliamentary form of government provided for in the Constitution is best suited for us, for a stable government to be in place, which enabled the country to become the third largest economy in the world in terms of power purchase parity and Federalism was the philosophy and spirit of the constitution. He further said that history has taken a full circle with a person of Indian origin now heading the government in the United Kingdom, which once ruled us.

The instrument of social re-engineering is a unique feature of our Constitution for the diverse and complex geopolitical nature of the country as it is vertically and horizontally divided into the lines of caste, religion and race, said Sisodia. Sisodia exhorted the students of the University to keep up with the reputation of Acharya Nagarjuna, the best philosopher in the world, after whom the University was named.

Prof P Raja Sekhar, Vice Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University, presided over the function. Prof P Varaprasada Murthy, Rector, Prof. Y Ashok Kumar, Dr BR Ambedkar Chair, Prof B Karuna, Registrar of the University and Prof Ch Swaroop Rani, Principal of University College of Arts, Commerce & Law, also participated in the function.