What is a Preamble, and what is the history of the

Preamble to India’s Constitution

A preamble is an introductory statement in a document that

explains the document’s philosophy and objectives. In a
Constitution, it presents the intention of its framers, the
history behind its creation, and the core values and principles
of the nation.
The ideals behind the Preamble to India’s Constitution were
laid down by Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution,
adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947.
Although not enforceable in court, the Preamble states the
objects of the Constitution, and acts as an aid during the
interpretation of Articles when language is found ambiguous.
The Preamble reads:
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to
constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the
unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of
November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO
OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”

The words, “We, the people of India…” indicate the ultimate

sovereignty of the people of India. Sovereignty means the
independent authority of the State, not being subject to the
control of any other State or external power.
The text declares India to be a “Republic” — indicating a
government by the people and for the people.
It states “social, economic, and political justice” as an
objective.
Nehru had said in 1956, “Democracy has been spoken of
chiefly in the past, as political democracy, roughly
represented by every person having a vote. But a vote by
itself does not represent very much to a person who is down
and out, to a person, let us say, who is starving and hungry.
Political democracy, by itself, is not enough except that it
may be used to obtain a gradually increasing measure of
economic democracy, equality and the spread of good things
of life to others and removal of gross inequalities.”
“Liberty”, “equality”, and “fraternity” have also been made
ideals.
Dr B R Ambedkar, in his concluding speech in the Constituent
Assembly, had said, “Political democracy cannot last unless
there lies at the base of it social democracy. What does
democracy mean? It means a way of life which recognises
liberty, equality and fraternity which are not to be treated as
separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the
sense that to divorce one from the other is to defeat the very
purpose of democracy. Liberty cannot be divorced from
equality, equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can
liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity.”
The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1976,
replaced the words “sovereign democratic republic” to
“sovereign socialist secular democratic republic”. It also
changed “unity of the nation” to “unity and integrity of the
nation”.
NISHANT POTE
12th A