Let’s celebrate Samvidhan Divas or Constitution Day or
National Law Day today as it was 26th November 1949 when the Constituent
Assembly of India adopted the constitution of the country which, however, came
into effect on 26 January 1950.
Adhering to the law of the land is not only an honour to
the establishment but also strengthening the nation and ensuring the better
prospects of countrymen. Broadly speaking, the rights of every citizen are well
protected and justice for all is well-enshrined in the book for all to follow.
But can the law be selective? People are often heard
saying that what is happening is that ‘one law for the rich and another for the
poor’. Is that any way natural delivery of justice for mankind? Rather
everybody is expected to be equal in the eyes of the law, more particularly in
democratic set up that we have chosen to stay with. A self-chosen form of
government is the best possible one. The monarchy is the matter of past.
However, those close to the power behave like that they
are a law unto themselves, leaving the common man beleaguered and victimized of
their oppression and inebriation of their powers. Reports are all around. Who
will bell the cat?
So what will these commoners do? They will have no option
but to choose the path of the saying -necessity knows no law. Who will deny the
fact that ‘self-preservation is the first law of nature? On the contrary,
nobody should be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Hence, it
is incumbent upon the government to ensure the infallible justice to all.
Let the law be equally applicable to everybody
irrespective of their, caste, creed, religion, high or low. This is the high
time the philosophy of Thomas Fuller’s words- “be you never so high, the
law is above you” be brought into practice in letters and spirits. This will a
real tribute to the architect of Indian Constitution, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar who
in every possible manner put in everything for the best possible form of
governance and rule.
What is needed is practice and adherence to the
constitution of the country, not the way Shiv Sena has declared that his party
will boycott the celebration. The national interest must be above the party
politics for petty gains. Blame-game is on. The lives of masses are at stake
with Delhi choking. Even the apex court has intervened asking the political
parties enjoying the power to unite to work for the cause and stop the gas
chamber burning in the national capital of the country.
Shall we wake up to the call on this National Law Day or
remain within precincts of our houses passing the bucks?
The social entrepreneur Dr Birbal Jha is a noted
author and the Managing Director of Lingua Multiservices Pvt Ltd having a
popular trademark ‘British Lingua’. He is regarded as having created a
revolution in English training in India with the slogan ‘English for all.’
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