History

I would like to point out that if we are able to act according to the Constitution which has been
adopted..., I am sure we shall be able very soon to make our country great. This is a goal which is within
our power to reach, but its realisation would require hard physical and mental labour and above all great
moral regeneration. We have prepared a democratic Constitution. But the successful working of
democratic institutions requires in those who have to work with them willingness to respect the
viewpoint of others, capacity for compromise and accommodation. — Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first
President of India Fig 10.1. Glimpses from the Republic day Parade CHAPTER 10 The Big Questions 1.
What is a constitution, and why do we need one? 2. How was the Indian Constitution prepared? 3. How
did our freedom struggle and civilisational heritage influence the Constitution? 4. What are the key
features of the Constitution of India? Why is it still relevant, even though it was written more than
seventy years ago? Governance and Democracy 10 – The Constitution of India — An Introduction 209 It
was yet another chilly January morning in Delhi, much like every Republic Day. Ma’s voice echoed
through the house, “Wake up! It’s time, or you’ll miss the parade!” Papa, already up, switched on the
television to Doordarshan and called out, “Kumar, Niharika, come quickly! The parade has started!” The
children jumped out of their warm beds, rushing to sit in front of the television, eager not to miss even a
moment of the Republic Day Parade. The sight of the majestic marching bands, vibrant displays, and the
unfurling of the tricolour at Kartavya Path filled the room Helium is a gas that doesn’t react with paper or
ink, helping to preserve the Constitution over time. Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
with pride and excitement. This day carries a deep significance — it marks the coming into effect of the
Indian Constitution on 26 January 1950. The book in the picture is our Constitution. To keep it safe, it is
carefully preserved in a helium-filled glass case in Parliament. But what exactly is a constitution, and why
is it so important? Fig. 10.2. The Constitution of India carefully preserved in a helium-filled glass case
LET’S REMEMBER Recall that in Grade 6, we saw the meaning of the word ‘constitution’ — a document
that lays down the basic principles and laws of a nation. In small groups of three, list all the questions
that come to your mind about a country’s constitution. 210 The Constitution of India is the document
that many of the important officials of our country pledge to uphold. The president takes an oath to
preserve, protect, and defend it. The prime minister, council of ministers, and judges promise to follow
its provisions. What Is a Constitution? A simple answer is that it is a document that spells out a nation’s
basic principles and laws. It lays out: the framework of the three organs of the government (legislature,
executive, and judiciary) and their roles and responsibilities; checks and balances amongst the three
organs of government to ensure fairness, responsibility and accountability; the rights and duties of the
citizens; an outline of the long-term goals and aspirations of the nation. Why do we need a constitution?
LET’S EXPLORE Imagine that your school has reached the final tournament in kabaddi at the state-level.
The opponent is a strong team that has won the tournament two years in a row. They are aiming to win
a third time, a hat-trick. The match is on, and a player from your team has just got one of the players
from the other team ‘out’; then a dispute breaks out. The player from the other team insists that she
had already crossed into her team area before your team player caught her. The referee has seen that
the player from the other team was indeed ‘out’. To settle the dispute amicably, she pulls out a little
official rulebook. The team captains confer with the referee and look at the rules. They then agree that
the player was indeed ‘out’, and your team has won the state-level trophy. Governance and Democracy
10 – The Constitution of India — An Introduction 211 Discuss in your group what might have happened if
there was no official rulebook that the referee and the team captains could refer to. What is required to
ensure everyone agrees to abide by the rulebook? What might happen if the team captains did not
agree to refer to the rulebook at all? Think of a game that you play often and list the rules you follow.
Each group will then present their set of rules to the rest of the class. Listen to each presentation, discuss
the rules, and work together to decide on a common set of rules for the game. What challenges do you
face in reaching a consensus on rules that everyone agrees with? What could be the ‘rulebook’ for a
country? How would it be made? Our Constitution is something like a rulebook for the country. Exploring
Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1 DON’T MISS OUT Just as your textbook has many sections and
chapters, the Constitution of India has 25 parts and 12 schedules. Each part has sections within it. It is
the world’s largest written constitution. When it came into effect, it had 22 Parts and 8 schedules. You
don’t need to remember these numbers, but can you guess why they have increased since 1950? The
basic rules and principles in a constitution determine what kind of government will be there, how it will
be formed, and how it will function. This includes many principles we saw in the previous chapter, such
as how the legislature, executive and judiciary are formed and how they work. A constitution describes,
for example, how laws are to be made and implemented, who elects the executive, how the judiciary is
made, and what rights and duties individual citizens have. Many constitutions, including the Indian
Constitution, also state the values and ideals the country is committed to — for instance, 212 equality
and justice for all, fraternity, pluralism and freedom. In fact, it is these values and ideals that usually form
the basis for the laws and principles in a constitution.