Dear fellow citizen,
Namaste!
26th November is a day of immense pride for every Indian. It was on
this very day in 1949 that the Constituent Assembly adopted the
Constitution of India, a sacred document that has continued to guide the
nation’s progress with clarity and conviction. That is why, nearly a decade
ago, in 2015, the NDA government decided to mark 26th November as
Constitution Day.
It is the power of our Constitution that enabled a person like me,
coming from a humble and economically disadvantaged family, to serve as the
Head of the Government continuously for over 24 years. I still remember the
moments in 2014, when I came to Parliament for the first time and bowed,
touching the steps of the greatest temple of democracy. Again, in 2019,
after the election results, when I entered the Central Hall of Samvidhan
Sadan, I bowed and placed the Constitution on my forehead as a mark of
reverence. This Constitution has given several others, like me, the power
to dream and the strength to work towards it.
On Constitution Day, we remember all the inspiring members of the
Constituent Assembly, which was presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who
contributed to the making of the Constitution. We recall the efforts of Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar, who chaired the Drafting Committee with remarkable
foresight. Several distinguished women members of the Constituent Assembly
enriched the Constitution with their thoughtful interventions and visionary
perspectives.
My mind goes back to the year 2010. This was when the Constitution
of India completed 60 years. Sadly, the occasion did not receive the
attention it deserved at a national level. But, to express our collective
gratitude and commitment to the Constitution, we organised a ‘Samvidhan
Gaurav Yatra’ in Gujarat. Our Constitution was placed on an elephant and I,
along with several other people from different walks of life, had the
honour of being part of the procession.
When the Constitution completed 75 years, we decided that this
would be an extraordinary milestone for the people of India. We had the
privilege of organising a special session of Parliament and launching
nationwide programmes to commemorate this historic occasion. These
programmes witnessed record public participation.
This year’s Constitution Day is special for many reasons.
It marks the 150th birth anniversary of two extraordinary personalities,
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Both of them made
monumental contributions to our nation. Sardar Patel’s visionary leadership
ensured the political unification of India. It was his inspiration and
courage of conviction that guided our steps to act against Article 370 and
35(A). The Constitution of India is now fully in force in Jammu & Kashmir,
ensuring all constitutional rights for the people, especially the women and
marginalised communities. The life of Bhagwan Birsa Munda continues to
inspire India’s resolve to ensure justice, dignity and empowerment for our
tribal communities.
This year, we also celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vande
Mataram, whose words resonate with the collective resolve of Indians
through the ages. At the same time, we commemorate the 350th martyrdom
anniversary of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, whose life and sacrifice continue
to illuminate us with courage, compassion and strength.
All these personalities and milestones remind us of the primacy of
our duties, something the Constitution also emphasizes through a dedicated
chapter on Fundamental Duties in Article 51A. These duties guide us on how
to collectively achieve social and economic progress. Mahatma Gandhi always
emphasised the duties of a citizen. He believed that a duty well performed
creates a corresponding right and that real rights are a result of the
performance of duty.
25 years have already passed since this century began. In just over
two decades from now, we will mark 100 years since freedom from colonial
rule. In 2049, it will be a hundred years since the Constitution was
adopted. The policies we frame, the decisions we take today and our
collective actions will shape the lives of generations to come.
Inspired by this, as we move forward to realise the dream of a
Viksit Bharat, we must always place our duties towards our nation foremost
in our minds.
Our country has given us so much and this brings out a deep sense
of gratitude from within. And, when we live with this feeling, fulfilling
our duties becomes integral to our nature. To carry out our duties, it
becomes imperative to put in our full capability and dedication in every
task. Every action of ours should strengthen the Constitution and further
national goals and interests. It is afterall our responsibility to fulfil
the dreams envisioned by the framers of our Constitution. When we work with
this sense of duty, our nation’s social and economic progress will multiply
manifold.
Our Constitution has given us the right to vote. As citizens, it is
our duty to never miss the opportunity to vote in national, state and local
elections where we are registered. In order to inspire others, we can think
of organizing special ceremonies every 26th November in schools and
colleges to celebrate those youngsters who are turning 18. This way our
first-time voters will feel that in addition to being students, they are
also active participants in the process of nation-building.
When we inspire our youth with a sense of responsibility and pride,
they will remain committed to the values of democracy throughout their
lives. This sense of commitment is the foundation of a strong nation.
Let us, on this Constitution Day, reaffirm our pledge to fulfil our
duties as citizens of this great nation. In doing so, we can all contribute
meaningfully to the building of a Viksit Bharat that is developed and
empowered.
Yours,
Narendra Modi
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