Listening to the TV debates these days, it seems that every citizen is well aware of their rights. I never see any one talking about their duties, or responsibilities, towards the nation. At the slightest pretext, every person, especially politicians, start quoting the constitution and making a loud noise about their rights being infringed by the government. Some of them mislead people about the absolute nature of their rights. None of them ever talk about their duties towards preserving our country as a unified composite culture, which is proud of its rich heritage.
I feel every citizen should be aware of their rights, as also their duties towards the country. The duties are enumerated as Article 51A of the Constitution, and are reproduced below.
1[PART IVA - FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India—
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its
ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the
National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which
inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity
and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national
service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India
transcending religious, linguistic and regional or
sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory
to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our
composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild
life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism
and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure
violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of
individual and collective activity so that the nation
constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and
achievement;]
2[(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide
opportunities for education to his child or, as the
case may be, ward between the age of six and
fourteen years.]
________________________________________________
1 Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 11 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2 Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).
I feel every citizen should be aware of their rights, as also their duties towards the country. The duties are enumerated as Article 51A of the Constitution, and are reproduced below.
1[PART IVA - FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India—
(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its
ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the
National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which
inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity
and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national
service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India
transcending religious, linguistic and regional or
sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory
to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our
composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild
life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism
and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure
violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of
individual and collective activity so that the nation
constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and
achievement;]
2[(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide
opportunities for education to his child or, as the
case may be, ward between the age of six and
fourteen years.]
________________________________________________
1 Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 11 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
2 Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).
Comments
I think that it is time that we stop taking our citizenship for granted. It is not free. We need to take the Fundamental duties seriously.
However, looking at the way our country men aggressively demand their rights, and burn public property at the slightest pretext, it is high time we make laws to rein these small number of people, mostly unemployed political aspirants, with political backing. Most countrymen follow the dictates without even knowing that they are required to do so by the Constitution.