SPECIAL ON REPUBLIC DAY: JAI HIND- By Susan Anand, Advocate

The celebration of the Republic Day on 26th January is always a reaffirmation of the intention and spirit of the constitution enacted and adopted on 26th November, 1949. It is indeed commendable and deserves salutations that we have been able to uphold the ideals enshrined in the Preamble – a key to the constitution. It reads “We the people, having resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic……do hereby Adopt, Enact and give to ourselves this constitution.” A careful examination of the text would reveal that “We the people” of India are the architects of Indian polity. Further we assured to uphold the “dignity” of the individual. Indeed it is one of the finest preamble of the world enlisting the source, nature of polity and objectives in unambiguous terms.

An impartial analysis would however make us hang our heads in shame wondering where are “we” who are the “source” of the constitution. Where is the “dignity” of the individual which we assured to uphold! It is barely seen, least to be recognised, when the arrangements (Bandobast) made for the celebration of 65th Republic Day are put to reason. “We” are hurt to see the inconvenience and indignity being thrown on our face. The Hukamnama by the government has created a Bandh like situation.  “We” cannot go to office or school, colleges, or markets because of the multi layered security arrangements for celebrating “Our” Republic Day. Not only this, more than 1500 office goers have to use their leg muscles, a fitness compulsion, to reach the office as per the orders no vehicle is to be parked near the Time House, Express building and Herald house from 2 PM on 22nd January till 2 PM on 26th January. Couldn’t little more effective coverage by CCTV cameras serve the security purposes?

We are looking forward to the Republic Day celebration but not at the cost of inconvenience to the people.

(Author is a Jalandhar based Advocate)