Indian democracy is a beautiful agreement between the government and the citizens of the state duly approved by the Constitution. Citizens expect all the rights and facilities from the government which is unquestionable from the legal point of view. However, if we start to think rationally and morally, are Indian citizens really fulfilling all their duties and responsibilities which have been enshrined under the Fundamental Duties of the Constitution of India?
The answer would largely be a no. There is a greater need for introspection to delve deeper into the essence of civic sense, which is widely missing in India. My article attempts to start a stronger discourse on civic sense with special reference to India.
India is the second largest country in the world in terms of population and holds a place amongst the fastest growing major economies of the world. The demographic dividend of India is also in full favour of the economy, thereby increasing the prospects of holistic development. Despite all these favourable indicators, one has to observe that most of the times people blame institutions and government in power for almost every issue without questioning themselves.
Indians are assertive in nature when it comes to their rights which can be easily observed by numerous protests, strikes, and movements that take place all over the country. These assertions play a vital role in making of a vibrant democracy in India. However, too much neglect and ignorance have been observed, when it comes to the part of fulfilling one’s responsibility as a citizen of the country. Therefore, it is imperative to delve deeper into the issue of civic sense in India so that some insights can be taken into the framework for further analysis.
Fundamental Duties
Article 51 A of the Indian Constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to:
- Abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
- Cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
- Uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
- Defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
- Promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
- Value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
- Protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures;
- Develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
- Safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
- Strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
- Every Indian Parent or Guardian must ensure that their child or ward was provided opportunities for education between the ages of 6 and 14 years
These above-mentioned fundamental duties are of utmost importance for making India a successful democracy, where everyone lives peacefully without any violence. The usage of beautiful yet deep and meaningful words like brotherhood, composite culture, environment, scientific temper, humanism, nation, education etc. reminds citizens of the values which need to be preserved at any cost to uphold the social fabric of India.
Civic Sense And Why it Matters?
The concept of civic sense is very simple in terms of understanding as it prescribes the virtues of society which integrates the nation and brotherhood. Social norms, behaviour, codes, and ethics form part of the civic sense. It talks about how people should behave and react to a particular situation so that a socially acceptable outcome can be achieved.
Civic sense combines civic responsibility with the essential virtue of goodwill. There is a need to bring a new discourse of civic Sense in India so that the demographic dividend of India can be harnessed harmoniously.
There are numerous examples which indicate that Indians lack civic sense. If we take Sri Lanka as an example, drivers in Colombo are more responsible and respect pedestrian crossings a lot more, in comparison to Delhi’s aggressive driving.
Moreover, a report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported that 1,47,913 lives were lost in the year 2017 which shows that “nearly three persons died every ten minutes in road accidents across India”. These accidents are often caused due to drunken driving, negligence of traffic rules, talking on mobile phones while driving and so on. There is a need on the part of citizens to be more conscious of their civic responsibilities not only for their own safety but also for the security of others as innocent lives are being lost due to such avoidable mistakes.
A survey conducted by the Wharton School of Pennsylvania and BAV Group concluded that the Netherlands is the best country in terms of gender equality and human rights. In terms of citizenship rankings, Norway is on the top, while India holds the 55thposition out of 80 countries surveyed. The real reason behind India’s low ranking cannot just be blamed on the government. Citizens are also responsible for their negligent behaviour.
The Supreme Court of India limited the time for the bursting of crackers between 8-10 p.m. for the Diwali celebrations in Delhi-NCR. But to our utter surprise, or may be no surprise, people did not care about the verdict and burst crackers well before 8 pm and even after 10 pm, defying the apex court’s order. The rationale behind the court’s order was to prevent the deteriorating air pollution which is claiming the lives of thousands of people in India.
But citizens are not playing their due role in maintaining the rule and order. There is a need for rational thinking which can override the emotions attached to the festival and would understand the severe consequences of such hazardous air-pollution to the vulnerable children and elders in particular and the rest population in general. Indians need to build up their scientific temper which is supposed to be one of the fundamental duties as prescribed by the Constitution.
Violent protests in India not only bring a huge revenue loss to the country but also damages the image of India in the world. Moreover, these protests hurt the business sector; tourism sector and socio-economic lives of the common people. Protests should be peaceful in nature so that the whole nation does not get affected due to the violent actions of some sections of the society.
India has witnessed many communal riots since independence due to one or other reasons which cannot be justified on a rational basis. Even after 70 years of independence, communal violence has not stopped completely. Fundamental duties demand the composite culture, humanism, and brotherhood which is the key for a successful nation. Indians need not read any other religious scripture or sermon to live peacefully, as the Constitution alone has incorporated all the virtues to live peacefully in society, without hatred and violence.
Way Forward
One has to understand that India has not reached the stage of a developed country yet, and therefore, it cannot fulfill all the responsibilities due to lack of resources and technology. Thus, Indian citizens need to play their role in a manner which helps India prosper. There is a need to bring the positive and constructive discourse of civic sense in India so that citizens can play their due role in strengthening the democracy.
Indian citizens need to incorporate the virtues enshrined in the Fundamental Duties of the Constitution of India. Citizens who are informed of the civic sense would become an asset for the country. Besides, if India wants to avoid a demographic disaster and harness demographic dividend, its citizens will have to play a constructive role. The nation is made when harmonious relations are established among people, and a future is envisioned collectively.