PSIR Simplified

Philosophy is concerned with the ultimate reality or with the most fundamental causes and principles of objects and ideas and human per­ception and knowledge of them. Thus, the philosophy of a Constitution is con­cerned with the its fundamental princi­ples, ideals and objectives. These ideals and princi­ples give meaning and direction to the constitutional scheme. Like any other Constitution, the Indian Constitution is also based on certain fundamental principles and ideals which evolved over a period of time and were articulated by the Constituent Assem­bly while framing the Constitution.

The philosophy of the Indian Constitution is largely inherent in the Preamble of the Constitution and finds expression in different provi­sions of the Constitution particularly those related to the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). The Fundamental Duties added in 1976 also reflect India’s civilizational ethos like respect to women, conservation of environment and spirit of innovation and excellence.

Evolution of Philosophy of the Indian Constitution

The philosophy of the Indian Constitution is not something which has been deter­mined and evolved by the people charged with the responsibility of framing the Constitution. In fact, as Pylee remarks, “it is the product of a long period of struggle for political independence by a people subjected to foreign domination; or it could be the result of a gradual evolution of ideas and aspirations cherished by people who want to establish their own separate identity’  (Constitutional Government in India- M.V. Pylee).

 In the immediate context, he evolution of the philosophy of the Indian Constitution is mainly influenced by two sources : namely national movement, and the Gandhian ideology.

The national movement spanning over a period of a century witnessed intense articulation of hopes and aspirations of people not only for the freedom of the country but for its future development. Western Ideals such as democracy, secularism, justice, rule of law etc. were refined and consolidated by Indian leaders. The initial ideological orientation to the national movement was imparted by Indian Renaissance led by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and others and social-religious reforms of 19th century. Both western and Indian ideals came under sharp scrutiny during the national movement. As national movement gathered momen­tum as people’s movement, thought was given to the ideals which would shape the future of independent India. The first systematic expression of these ideals was given in the Nehru Committee Report, 1928 (purported to be future Constitution of India) which recommended federal system for India to check the tendencies of over centralization of power, auto­cracy and compartmentalization of political life. The Report also recom­mended certain fundamental rights for the people in general and the minorities in particular. The Karachi Session of Congress, 1931 articulated certain social and economic rights for the weaker sections and disadvanta­ged groups. It laid down that the organization of economic life must conform to the principle of justice, living wages to the workers and healthy conditions of work.

The idea of planned development became popular in 1936 with the publication of Visvesvaraya’s plan in his book titled ‘Planned Economy of India’.  It was given a concrete shape by the formation of the National Planning Committee in 1938. Similarly, the idea of socialism became popular gradually as Nehru in his presidential address to the Lucknow Congress Session, 1936, declared that ‘the only solution of the world’s problem and of India’s problem lies in socialism’. Jn the following year, in his presidential speech at the Faizpur Session of the Congress, Nehru called for the build­ing up of a powerful joint front of all the anti-imperialist forces in the country including the organized workers and peasants. Thus, the major underlying ideals of the Con­stitution like democracy’, freedom, rights, secularism, justice, socialism etc. were evolved and articulated during freedom struggle and were also projected as guiding principles for independent India.

The influence of Gandhian ideas was no less significant on the course and direction of the national move­ment and the future constitutional arrangement for India. For, it was Gandhi who imparted popular and national character to the national movement by articulating Abd expressing the aspirations of common people of India through the peaceful means, which are deeply inherent in the history and culture of the country. India’s age-old civilizational ethos like truth and non-violence, duties of the political leadership as well as citizens came alive in the Gandhian ideology. His vision encompassed not only the direction of national movement but also the future shape of things to come after independence. Gandhi’s philosophi­cal vision about the future political set-up of India was best expressed by him while giving interview to a newspaper on his way to London to participate in the second Round Table Conference in 1931. Gandhi remar­ked—

“1 shall strive for a Constitution, which will release India from all thralldom and patronage and give her, if need be, the right to sin. I shall work for India, in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have a voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people; an India in which all communities live in perfect harmony’. Thus, Gandhi stood for equal status and treatment of all and wanted to make weaker sections not only the target of deve­lopment but also the active partici­pants in the process of development.

He further says, “There can be no room for untouchability or the curse of intoxicating drinks and drugs. Women stall enjoy the same rights as men. Since we shall be at peace with the rest of the world, neither exploi­ting nor being exploited, we should have the smallest army imaginable. All interests not in conflict with the dumb millions will be scrupulously respected, whether foreign or indige­nous. Personally,  I hate distinction between foreign and indigenous. This is India of my dreams.”