The Song and the slogan Vandematram (Hail to thee O motherland), played a very prominent role in India’s struggle for freedom through out the twentieth century. The chanting of Vandematarm was the national cry form freedom. It continued to inspire generations of freedom fighters, thinkers and revolutionaries who lived and died chanting the mystical word.
Preamble of Indian constitution
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.
Purpose of Having a Preamble:
The Preamble to our Constitution serves two purposes: –
A) It indicates the source from which the Constitution derives its authority;
B) It also states the objects, which the Constitution seeks to establish and promote.
The Preamble seeks to establish what Mahatma Gandhi described as The India of my Dreams, “…an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice; …an India in which all communities shall leave I perfect harmony. There can be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability or the curse of Intoxicating drinks and drugs. Woman will enjoy as the same rights as man.”
( Hindi Version )
Gandhi Crucified?
Exactly One Hundred and Thirty Six Years ago a child was born in a small sea-shore town – Porbandar of Gujarat. Could any body expect then, what the future holds for this kid? Or more importantly, what future this kid holds for mankind in general and India in particular? Could any body have thought one day the ‘kid’ they are holding in their lap will become Bapu – The Father of the nation?
What he did, how he became Mahatma, why was he considered the prophet of Peace and Non-violence and the ambassador of mankind is a history now. And may pages (read MBs) of literatures will only prove insufficient to express Mahatma Gandhi. When he died on Jan 30th 1948, his death was unanimously considered as the second crucifixion of the history after that of Jesus Christ.
The Trap we fell into
India was once the ‘golden bird‘. Mark Twain had remarked –
“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, grandmother of legend, and great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only”.
So what happened? How the cradle of Human race and the grandmother of legend turned into a dominated colony of British rule. The answer lies here. And I suppose, every Indian must know this …