The inclusion of Fundamental Duties in Part IVA of the Constitution resulted from the 42nd amendment, as recommended by the Swaran Singh Committee. This addition aimed to lend greater meaning to Fundamental Rights, underlining the essential interplay between rights and duties in a societal context.
Fundamental Duties encompass various principles, including cherishing the ideals that fueled our freedom struggle, preserving the nation’s sovereignty and integrity, contributing to national services, fostering harmony and brotherhood, rejecting practices derogatory to the dignity of women, safeguarding public property, and cultivating a scientific temper.
These duties draw justification from India’s cultural ethos, as reflected in religious texts and ancient writings that consistently advocated for the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. The compassionate treatment of all life forms is deeply ingrained in the Indian way of life, with historical reverence for natural forces, plants, and animals. The concept of “Sarvadharma Samman” has long promoted fraternity, while the worship of Goddesses symbolizes respect for women.
Despite these noble ideals, certain practices deviate from the principles of Fundamental Duties. Incidents such as the destruction of public property by violent mobs, inflammatory speeches causing disharmony among communities, escalating corruption, and a declining child ratio underscore the incomplete internalization of these values in the hearts and minds of citizens.
To address this gap, it is crucial to instill these values from early childhood through a free, fair, secular, and non-discriminatory education system. Additionally, the society requires role models across various domains, including politics, business, administration, judiciary, and academia, to exemplify and reinforce the principles encapsulated in Part IVA of the Constitution.
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