Q1) examine the ideological basis of the Indian Constitution.

(15)

Ans: When the Constituent Assembly of India embarked on drafting the Constitution, it
grappled with a diverse array of ideologies prevailing at the time. Western nations
championed liberal democratic values, emphasizing rights, freedom, competitive markets,
and capitalism while viewing socialism as antithetical to their ideals. In contrast, following
the Socialist Revolution of 1917 in the USSR (now Russia), Marxism and socialism gained
substantial traction in parts of Europe. The socialist countries advocated the principles of
equality, justice, state-regulated economies, and the nationalization of production and
distribution, rejecting the Western notions of capitalism as detrimental to socialist principles.

In their struggle for freedom from the clutches of British imperialism most of the
Indian leaders were greatly influenced by Western liberalism and its values of freedom,
rights, equality, justice, democracy and development. However, after the Socialist revolution
in Russia, they also came forward to accept the importance of socialist goals

At the time of the drafting of its constitution, India stood apart from other nations by
not adhering strictly to a singular ideology. Recognizing this unique landscape, the architects
of the Constitution chose a path of amalgamation, drawing from a diverse array of ideologies.
Below, we'll delve into the intricate blend of these ideologies that influenced the formation of
India's constitution:

A) Democratic socialism: The members of the Constituent Assembly of India reached a

consensus and adopted democratic Socialism as a goal. They accepted the value of
socialist goals but did not accept the Russian way of achieving these goals. They
decided to use democratic means for achieving the socialist goals of economic, social
and political justice, equality and welfare of all. In other words, India should have a
democratic constitution with a socialist bias. The constitution makers described India
as a Sovereign, Democratic Republic and defined Justice, Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity as its goals. The word socialism was added to the Preamble to the
Constitution through the 42nd Amendment; however, this was also discussed in the
Constituent Assembly. Nehru, while moving the Objectives Resolution. This made it
clear that India upholds the ideology of democratic socialism
B) Liberalism The ideology of Liberalism serves as the foundation of the Indian
Constitution. It ensures that the people of India are given various fundamental rights
and freedoms. The Constitution values the principles of representative democracy,
 free and fair elections, universal adult suffrage, political rights, responsible
representatives, transparent and accountable government, rule of law, independent
judiciary, freedom of press, and a system of strong local self-government. It also
promotes a multi-party system and the development of a robust civil society.
C) Secularism: The Indian Constitution is characterized by secularism. People are free to
practice their own religion without any discrimination based on religion. All religions
are treated equally, and there is no state religion. India's social reformers and political
leaders have always advocated religious tolerance, freedom, and equal respect for all
religions. The Constitution of India reflects this principle by granting equal respect to
all religions, although the word 'secularism' was not included in the Constitution as
adopted in 1949. The term 'secularism' was added to the Preamble to the Constitution
in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment and became part of the Constitution's basic
structure after the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973, protecting the
principle of secularism from any amendments that seek to undermine the secular
character of our Constitution.
Although the term secularism was added to the Preamble in 1976, it needs to be noted
that the Constituent Assembly also discussed secularism to be included in the
Preamble. Prof. K.T. Shah had moved an amendment to the effect which was however
rejected by Dr. Ambedkar as unnecessary
D) Gandhian Philosophy: The Indian Constitution incorporates the values and principles
advocated and practiced by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhian philosophy promotes peace,
peaceful coexistence, rural local self-government, economic decentralization, rural
development, and equality of all people in India. Gandhi emphasized the significance
of non-violence and truth and also advocated against untouchability, encouraged
cottage industry, promoted prohibition, adult education and the upliftment of villages.
He envisioned a society free of exploitation and decentralized in character. All these
Gandhian principles have been given a respectable place in the Constitution of India.
E) Internationalism: The Indian Constitution emphasizes its belief in the principle of
Internationalism and upholds the ideals of equality among nations, the right to self-
determination, and the importance of friendship and cooperation among all nations. It
recognizes the United Nations as the agency responsible for promoting peace,
security, and development among all nations through the cultivation of friendships
and cooperation. Under its article 51, the Constitution also upholds the principles of
promoting international peace and security, maintaining honorable relations among
nations, respecting international law and treaties, and settling disputes peacefully
among nations.
In conclusion, the Indian Constitution is an amalgamation of several
ideologies, including democratic socialism, liberalism, secularism, Gandhian
philosophy, and internationalism. The Constitution's architects carefully selected the
principles of each of these ideologies and blended them to create a unique document
that reflects the diversity of India's society. Together, these ideologies create a
comprehensive framework for governing India and upholding the values of its diverse
society.