DIPS ROHINI
Struggle against Apartheid
• Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South
Africa.
• This system was particularly oppressive for the blacks.
→ They were forbidden from living in white areas.
• Since 1950, the blacks, coloured and Indians fought against the apartheid system.
• The African National Congress (ANC) was the umbrella organisation that led the
struggle against the policies of segregation.
• In 1964, Nelson Mandela and seven other leaders were sentenced to life
imprisonment in 1964 for daring to oppose the apartheid regime in his country.
Towards a New Constitution
• As protests and struggles against apartheid had increased, the white regime
changed its policies.
• After 28 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela released from jail.
• At the midnight of 26 April 1994, democracy was adopted as a form of
government in South Africa.
• After two years, a constitution came out which gave to its citizens the most
extensive rights available in any country.
Why do we need a Constitution?
• A constitution is necessary because:
→ It generates a degree of trust and coordination that is necessary for different
kind of people to live together.
→ It specifies how the government will be constituted, who will have power to
take which decisions.
→ It lays down limits on the powers of the government and tells us what the rights
of the citizens are.
→ It expresses the aspirations of the people about creating a good society.
Making of the Indian Constitution
• In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight other Congress leaders drafted a constitution for
India.
• In 1931, the resolution at the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress
dwelt on how independent India’s constitution should look like.
• Factors contributed to the making of our Constitution.
→ Ideals of French Revolution
→ The practice of parliamentary democracy in Britain
→ The Bill of Rights in the US
→ The socialist revolution in Russia
The Constituent Assembly
• In July 1946, Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held.
→ The drafting of the document called the constitution was done Constituent
Assembly.
→ Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
→ In December 1946, the first meeting was held.
• After the country was divided into India and Pakistan, the Constituent Assembly
also got divided.
• The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but it came into
effect on 26 January 1950.
• To mark this day we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.
• The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner.
→ First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon.
→ Then a Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar prepared a draft
constitution for discussion.
→ More than two thousand amendments were considered.
Philosophy of the Constitution
• The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values which is called
the Preamble to the constitution.
The preamble focuses on:
→ Justice, social, economic and political.
→ Liberty of thoughts, expression, belief, faith and worship.
→ Equality of status and of opportunity.
→ Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of
the nation.