FRATERNITY: THE FORGOTTEN PILLAR OF INDIA’S CONSTITUTION
FRATERNITY: THE FORGOTTEN PILLAR OF INDIA’S CONSTITUTION
Introduction
On November 25, 1949, B.R. Ambedkar ended his final address to the Constituent Assembly with a cautionary question: “How long shall we go on denying equality in our social and economic life?” More than seven decades later, this question remains painfully relevant. Constitution Day should not be a ceremonial ritual; rather, it must be a moral reminder that liberty, equality and fraternity continue to be unrealised promises for millions of Indians.
Foundations of a Transformative Constitution
The Constitution of India emerged from the collective struggles of Dalits resisting untouchability, women demanding political rights, workers seeking dignity, and minorities hoping for security in a Hindu-majority nation. It was, as Granville Austin described, “first and foremost a social document.”
Key transformative guarantees
Abolition of untouchability (Article 17)
Prohibition of discrimination (Article 15)
Universal Adult Franchise granting political equality
These provisions marked India’s moral break from hierarchies rooted in caste, patriarchy, and communal divides.
The Paradox of Constitutional Practice
Despite constitutional commitments, democratic values are routinely contradicted in everyday life.
Contemporary concerns
Debates on citizenship and religion-based belonging challenge Article 14’s equality promise.
Prosecution of journalists and activists under stringent laws undermines Article 19 freedoms.
Affirmative action is treated as a political bargaining chip rather than a constitutional instrument of justice.
These tensions reveal a deeper crisis: constitutional ideals struggle against the forces of majoritarianism, normalised exclusion, and social inequality.
Cultivating Constitutional Patriotism
India needs a shift from identity-based nationalism to constitutional patriotism—a sense of belonging rooted in values, not religion or tribe.
Meaning of constitutional patriotism
Embodying constitutional ethics in everyday decisions
Prioritising rights and dignity of all citizens
Recognising the moral worth of the marginalised
A simple example illustrates this: when a residents’ association debates allowing street vendors near its gate, constitutional morality demands considering the vendors’ right to livelihood (Article 21) alongside residents’ concerns. Such everyday moral choices reflect the true spirit of the Constitution.
Fraternity: The Missing Value in Our Public Life
Though liberty and equality receive attention, fraternity remains the least practiced yet most essential constitutional value.
Why Ambedkar placed fraternity last
Without fraternity, liberty becomes selfish
Without fraternity, equality remains formal, not social
Fraternity anchors democracy in solidarity and mutual respect
Fraternity vs tolerance
Fraternity is not passive tolerance or celebratory diversity. It demands:
Recognising equal dignity, not just difference
Challenging normalised exclusions
Resisting hierarchical privileges
The unnoticed imbalance between grand Diwali celebrations and subdued Eid observances in shared spaces reveals subtle but powerful exclusions that weaken social solidarity.
The Constitution as an Unfinished Project
Upendra Baxi reminds us that the Constitution is “unfinished business”—each generation must reinterpret and defend it.
Protecting the Constitution means:
Guarding against not just legal amendments but everyday erosion of its spirit
Choosing equality and dignity over convenience
Practising “daily acts of justice and bravery” that keep democracy alive
Constitution Day must remind us that it is not the Constitution’s text that protects India; it is citizens who protect the Constitution.
Conclusion
At 76, the Constitution challenges India with a simple question: Are we brave enough to bring the values of equality, liberty, and fraternity into our homes, workplaces, and neighbourhoods? The future of Indian democracy depends not on ritualistic reverence for the Constitution but on our willingness to live by its moral demands.
Mains Questions
“Fraternity is the least understood and least practised constitutional value.” Discuss its significance in the functioning of Indian democracy.
Evaluate the concept of constitutional patriotism in the Indian context. How can it strengthen social harmony?
