Democratic Tools to Constitutionalism in Indi...

Democratic Tools to Constitutionalism in Indian Context (Exploring Social Democracy: A Myth or Reality)

Author Name : Roselin Sekho

ABSTRACT

There is a famous saying by Abraham Lincoln, “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. People or “Janta” are at the core of democracy it’s the people who imbibe and display democratic virtues of equality, liberty and fraternity. That is why we term it as a way of life and not merely a political system.  Among the available forms of government it is the democracy which best fulfills the aspirations of people. The objective of this paper is on democratic institutions and attainment of the constitutionalism based on written constitution, Rule of Law, etc. The democratic method in constitutionalism is based on political equality and justice, which means that it is indirectly represented by its law makers in the Parliament; State Assemblies; and other local bodies. Thus, the citizens of the country are to exercise their sovereignty through the above institutions. The law makers are elected on an adult franchise. The constitution ensures equality to all its citizens, wherein included equality before law and the political front. Every citizen above the age of eighteen years is eligible to participate in the political system. Another area of focus in Indian Constitution was on social democracy. What does it mean? “Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy,” BR Ambedkar said. In other word, social democracy implies absence of discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, race, gender etc. It also implies the concept of a ‘Welfare State’ as was embodied in the Directive Principles of State Policy. In sum, the paper would spawn on the items of a democratic republic based on not only democratic form of government but also a democratic society.

Keywords:  Constituent Assembly, Democratic Republic, Objective Resolution Preamble of the Constitution, Political Democracy, Social Democracy