Deccan Herald

16^th Aug 2007

An ode to allegiance

By Nandana Reddy

The time has come for all of us to redeem our pledge to democracy.

On August 15, 1947, India demonstrated to the world the power of non-violence. Now, we celebrate 60 years of Independence as the largest democracy in the world.

But are we really a democracy?

One way to gauge the extent to which we have internalised and prize our Independence is to hear the anthem sung, especially in government schools. It is routinely massacred — the tune not even a distant cousin of the original, the words distorted to mimic some unknown language and the meaning long forgotten. The only message the anthem has for children is that the long boring programme is finally over and it’s time to grab their belongings and run!

If this is the message we have given to our children, how is democracy played out by us adults?

The riots in Gujarat, dowry deaths, female foeticide, atrocities against women and children ridicule our pledge to social, economic and political justice.

On August 9, a mob of legislators assaulted Taslima Nasreen at Hyderabad. They threw things and demanded that she “be handed over” to them. This and the recent spate of attacks on young artists in Kerala and Baroda don’t bode well for our constitutional guarantee to liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.

On August 1, a 12-year-old child was paraded in the streets of Chandhigarh, wrongly accused of stealing. He was repeatedly hit on the head and pushed around in complete violation of his rights. This child will have to live with this stigma for the rest of their lives. Examples of how distant we are from achieving our goal of equality of status and opportunity, promoting fraternity and assuring the dignity of the individual.

The Karnataka Legislature set a disturbing precedent when they passed an amendment to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, violating the 73rd Constitutional Amendment — rolling back decentralisation, to snatch the rights of Gram Panchayat members

These events are disturbing examples of a growing intolerance and reminders of the disquieting truth that the basic principles of our Constitution are being trampled upon with impunity by those who have taken it upon themselves to define what is right and wrong.

So how do we protect our country and ourselves? We should begin with small things. India actually does have an official “Oath of Allegiance”! It reads: I, (name) do solemnly affirm (or swear) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of India and fulfil my duties as a citizen of India. But I am yet to meet an Indian who knows the Indian pledge and even if one did to fulfil the pledge there is a catch, we need to know our Constitution!

Perhaps we should begin by learning to sing our National Anthem well and understand its meaning. Reciting our “Oath of Allegiance” should be included in the ritual of the Morning Prayer in schools.

Perhaps our legislators and Members of Parliament, who indecently have sworn the “Oath of Allegiance”, need a crash course on the basic principles, rights and obligation of our Constitution. Perhaps now, the time has come for all of us to redeem our pledge to democracy.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug162007/panorama2007081519318.asp