Parliament Session: Why A Perfect Past Also Inspires The Future

When Parliament convenes for a new session, it is always hoped that Members of Parliament, and different political parties, will engage in discussions and debates, and will argue, counter and persuade, and thereby present an ideal example of a vibrant democracy in action.

Many a time, however, in violation of parliamentary norms and conventions, some members and parties resort to unruly behavior by disrupting the proceedings, bringing a bad name to Parliament and democracy. There have been recent instances of gross indiscipline by some members of Parliament.

The Founding Fathers of our Republic expected better from our lawmakers. Some of the most fascinating debates took place in the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on December 9, 1946. The first sitting continued till Dec 23, 1946.

Last year, on December 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Today, as we mark 75 years of the historic sitting of our Constituent Assembly, I would urge my young friends to know more about this august gathering’s proceedings, and about the eminent stalwarts who were a part of it”.

Indeed, a reading of the debates of the Constituent Assembly is a learning experience. Whether it is a student or a researcher, a lawmaker or an “aam aadmi”, the debates enrich and enlighten. What’s more, many themes and talking points of Constituent Assembly debates reverberate in today’s India, too. The articulations of six or seven stalwarts in the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly appear especially relevant for today’s India.

The functioning of Parliament’s two Houses is crucial to the health of our democracy. Rajendra Prasad had something interesting to say in the context of Constituent Assembly: “All that we need is honesty of purpose, firmness of determination, a desire to understand each other’s viewpoint, that we shall do justice, that we shall behave as fairly, as squarely as possible towards everyone else – and with that determination, with that resolve, I cannot see why we should not be able to overcome the obstacles in our way…”

S Radhakrishnan, in one of his articulations, dwelt on the larger purpose of the Constituent Assembly: “We are here assembled to draw up a Constitution for future India. A Constitution is the fundamental law of the nation. It should embody and express the dreams and passions, the ideals and aspirations of the people. It must be based on the consent of all, and respect the rights of all people who belong to this great land”.

Today’s New India believes in “Vikas” along with “Virasat”. It is an India where development and futuristic thinking go hand in hand with pride in civilizational moorings. Many, including from the Opposition, class of opinion writers and sections of media, however, scoff at the thrust on “Virasat”.

Stalwarts in the Constituent Assembly were acutely aware of the huge responsibility that a glorious civilization like ours had bestowed upon them.

Whether it was Purushottam Das Tandon, or Sarojini Naidu or Jawahar Lal Nehru, there are many references to our glorious past in the Constituent Assembly debates. Sample what Nehru had to say: “We are at the end of an era and possibly very soon we shall embark upon a new age; and my mind goes back to the great past of India to the 5,000 years of India’s history, from the very dawn of that history which might be considered almost the dawn of human history, till today. All that past crowds around me and exhilarates me and at the same time somewhat oppresses me. Am I worthy of that past?”

Nehru, of course, was also committed to Socialism, and wanted “the Constitution of a Socialist state”. Many such ideas have been challenged and contested.

In today’s India, ideas like “Janjitaiya Gaurav Diwas” are mainstreamed and promoted and tribal heroes are given their due. The Constituent Assembly had its own share of concerns. In one particular context, Jaipal Singh said: “It is only a matter of political window-dressing that today we find six tribal members in this Constituent Assembly. How is it? What has the Indian National Congress done for our fair representation? Is there going to be any provision in the rules whereby it may be possible to bring in more Adibasis…?

Even in today’s India, especially during elections, some are enamoured with Jinnah. Ambedkar had a clear-cut position on this. He said: “With all our castes and creeds, I have not the slightest hesitation that we shall in some form be a united people. I have no hesitation in saying that notwithstanding the agitation of the Muslim League or the partition of India someday, enough light would dawn upon the Muslims themselves and they too will begin to think that a united India is better even for them”.

When a Nation which has always been aware of its responsibilities towards the global community, and thus aspires to be a “Vishwa Guru”, it only shows that it wants to pursue the idea of greater common global good. Sarojini Naidu spoke, in glowing terms, about India’s larger role. “He (Rajendra Prasad) will help us in framing that charter that restores to our Mother her rightful place as torchbearer of liberty, love, and peace. Standing in the immemorial house with its roof of snow and walls of sea, once again in the history of humanity she will rekindle her lamp of wisdom and inspiration to illuminate the world on its onward march of freedom”.

Radhakrishnan talked about India’s innate character, “(India) never asked the Parsis or the Jews or the Christians or the Muslims who came and took shelter there to change their creeds or become absorbed in what might be called a uniform Hindu humanity. It never did this. ‘Live and let live” – that has been the spirit of this country…”

In a country, there may be thousands of problems, but the number of problem solvers far exceeds the number of problems.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision reverberates in today’s India. Mookerjee said in a particular context: “We shall go ahead with our work in spite of all difficulties and obstacles and help to create that great India, united and strong, which will be the motherland of not this community or that, not this class or that, but of every person, man, woman and child, inhabiting this great land, irrespective of race, caste, creed or community, where everyone will have an equal opportunity, and equal freedom, and equal status, so that he or she could develop himself or herself to the best of his or her talents, and serve faithfully and fearlessly this beloved common motherland of ours.” This remains the credo of present-day India.

We would be doing our Founding Fathers proud if we desist from disruptions and unruly behaviour, and instead, engage in dialogue and debates, thereby strengthening our Democracy and setting an example for others.

(The writer, a JNU alumnus, is a political analyst. Views are personal)