Insights into Editorial: Importance of Citizens Duties

insightsonindia.com/2019/11/27/insights-into-editorial-importance-of-citizens-duties

InsightsIAS November 27,

2019

Insights into Editorial: Importance of Citizens Duties

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Introduction:

According to Mahatma Gandhi the very performance of a duty secures us our right.
Rights cannot be divorced from duties.

Mahatama Gandhi held that “Satyagraha was born, for I was always striving to decide
what my duty was.”

Swami Vivekananda observed, “it is the duty of every person to contribute in the
development and progress of India”.

According to Indira Gandhi, “the moral value of fundamental duties would not be to
smother rights but to establish a democratic balance by making people conscious of
their duties equally as they are conscious of their rights”.

Constitution of India:

The Samvidhan or the Indian Constitution is the supreme law in India and it lays down
the framework to uphold the structures, duties, political codes, procedures and powers
to be followed by various bodies and institutions in the country.

The Constitution also dictates the directive principles, fundamental rights and duties of
Indian citizens.

The Indian Constitution drafted by a Constituent Assembly and not a Parliamentary

Assembly is the longest written constitution in the world.

The Chairman of the Constitution drafting committee Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is also

referred to as its chief architect.

About National Constitution Day or Constitution Day of India:

26 November has its own importance in the history of independent India because on
this day in 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted and it came in to effect on 26
January, 1950.

Therefore, marking the dawn of a new era. To acknowledge the contribution of the
framers of the Constitution and to aggravate the people regarding the prominent values,
26 November is celebrated as the ‘Constitution Day’.

Drafting an inclusive Constitution for a diverse India:

The Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document; it is a vehicle of life and its spirit is
always the spirit of age.

A very significant feature of our Constitution is that it balances citizens’ rights and
duties. These are social concepts that have grown through time, tradition and usage.

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The citizens’ duties as enshrined in the Constitution are essentially a codification of
tasks integral to the Indian way of life they focus on tolerance, peace and
communal harmony.

A close scrutiny of the clauses of Article 51A of the Constitution, indicate that a number
of them refer to values, which have been part of Indian tradition, mythology, religion and
practices.

Importance of Following Fundamental Duties:

Traditionally, the fundamental impulse to accept responsibilities and perform duties,

in every society, has been religious. Performing one’s duties with sincerity, is in fact, a
worship mechanism.

As a a line from the Rig Veda notes,”O, citizens of Bharat! As our ancient saints and seers,
leaders and preceptors have performed their duties righteously, similarly, you shall not
falter to execute your duties”.

Modern civilisations, sadly, do not offer many inducements for the performance of
duties they certainly don’t teach people that the real reward for responsible
citizenship is the preservation of a free society.

Fundamental Duties in Indian Constitution:

The idea of Fundamental Duties has been borrowed from the Constitution of
erstwhile USSR. Till then, Japan was only the democratic state that contains the
duties of the citizen.
Fundamental Duties are embedded in Part IV of the Indian Constitution under
Article 51A. originally the duties were ten in number, later on by 86th Amendment
in 2002, they levelled up to eleven.
Fundamental duty enshrined under Article 51A(e) seeks to promote harmony and
the spirit of common brotherhood, transcending the barriers of religion, language,
etc.
There is a duty under Article 51A(g) to protect and improve the environment, but
India has been severely affected by air & water pollution and the impact of climate
change.
India has a composite culture (under Article 51A(f)), “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
sums up that perspective.
However, presently there is growing intolerance in Indian society, reflected by
cases of cow vigilantism, mob lynching, etc.
Democracy cannot establish deep roots in society until the citizens don’t
complement fundamental rights with their fundamental duties. For a polity to
survive, citizens should have a high sense of duty.
Universally, great emphasis has been laid on citizens’ duties.
Article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

It states that “Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full
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development of his personality is possible.”

Conclusion:

A constitutional expert, BR Ambedkar had studied the constitutions of about 60

countries.

The text prepared by him provided constitutional guarantees and a wide range of
civil liberties for citizens including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability,
and the outlawing of all forms of discrimination.

Recently, Prime Minister of India has rightly said that our children should be taught
the Constitution.

Incorporating the essential aspects of fundamental duties in all oaths and pledges.

The Supreme Court has said that since duties are obligatory for citizens, the state should
strive to achieve the same goal.

Rights and duties have to exist together. Rights without duties will lead to anarchy.

In this context, the Fundamental Duties serve as a constant reminder of national goals as
well as inculcate a profound sense of social responsibility.

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