Our Living Constitution : A Concise Introduction & Commentary

Yet, despite its significance and value, and the fact that it seems to be in vogue at the moment, not many have a proper understanding of the various aspects of the Constitution that are currently being debated and challenged.

The Constitution of India is of paramount importance to every Indian. It bestows fundamental rights on all citizens, speaks in their name, charges those it empowers to protect these rights, and seeks to shield the people from abusers of power and privilege. It creates the basic framework of our democracy, including the three main organs of the state—the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The Constitution defines their powers, delimits their jurisdictions, demarcates their responsibilities, and regulates their relationships with one another, and with the people. It privileges an idea of India that transcends religious, ethnic, linguistic, and other sub-national identities. In the words of its principal architect, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: ‘Our Constitution provides us a magnificent structure beneath which all Indians, of all castes, creeds and languages, can equally seek shelter.’