Indian Constitution is a living document, says Nagaland Governor

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 26 (EMN): Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland on Saturday observed the Constitution Day at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949 and pay respect to the framers.

In a virtual address to the people of the state, the governor recalled the monumental contribution of the great souls of the Constituent Assembly who completed the task of drafting the Constitution which continues to be the guiding light of the country.

While highlighting the crucial role played by Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Dr. Rajendra Prasad in completing the whole exercise, he said “perhaps the most important feature of our Constitution is that its philosophy is everlasting, but its clauses are flexible”.

“Constitution framers were very far-sighted thus, making our Constitution flexible to give our future generation the power to change the clauses of the Constitution to make them more meaningful and compatible with changing times,” he said.

“Our Constitution is not rigid but a living document,” he said, adding that many amendments have been made to the Constitution over the year.

Paying tributes to the framers of the Constitution, he said: “They ensured that there are checks and balances in the democratic system with defined roles for the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. This allows them to function independently yet with accountability.”

One of the finest contributions of the framers of the Constitution is placing the sovereignty of the nation with the citizens of the country, and thus the Fundamental Rights, he said.

However, he reminded that the citizens also have obligations towards the nation and the society in the form of Fundamental Duties, though one’s duties should go beyond that.

He said the Constitution empowers the people as much as the people empower the Constitution. “When individuals and institutions ask what the Constitution has done for them and how it has built their capacities, they must also consider what they have done to uphold the Constitution and what they have done to support its value system,” he said.

He also stated that “today we are celebrating the Constitution Day on the theme, ‘India- the Mother of Democracy’ and the country has the privilege of structuring, nurturing and sustaining the biggest democracy of the world”.

He went on to quote the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “In every decision we take, every measure we consider, we must ask ourselves if what we are about to do will benefit the poorest and weakest person of our society”.

He urged to work for the welfare of the people, which he opined is the “greatest tribute to the Constitution that we are celebrating today,”.

Also addressing the gathering, Y Mhabemo Yanthan, Commisioner and Secretary to Govenor, said that the Union Ministry of Parliament Affairs wants the active participation of people on the occasion in order to “spread our constitutional values to the nook and corner of our country”.

“The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic assuring every Indian citizen justice, equality, and liberty and endeavours to promote fraternity,” he said.

“The emergence and success of India as the world’s largest working democracy essentially lies in the tradition of people’s participation in governance. On the strength of inclusiveness and diversity connecting all Indians through democratic values, our nation is forging ahead with renewed vigour and vitality,” he added.

On the occasion, Justice Kakheto Sema, Judge, Gauhati High Court Kohima Branch, administered the Constitution Day pledge.