The civilisational entity of the sub-continent coalesced after millennia of self-discovery into the Republic of India that is Bharat. It involved many sacrifices and enormous struggle to structure a political entity that absorbed much from the world even as it shaped a unique identity of its own. Every Republic Day, this achievement is celebrated. But it also serves as a reminder that nation-building is an ongoing project that continues to face challenges in the ebb and flow of time. The shocks being faced by world politics and economics at the present are an example of this. Not only does India need to face these externally but also the internal impact that these often have.
India rejected the ‘narrow domestic walls’, as Rabindranath Tagore put it, which restricted human unity and freedom and, after considerable hard work and thought, put together a constitution that eschewed divisions based on religion, caste, ethnicity, class, even nationalism. The underlying principle was ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ under which nations were functional units of the global family. Of course, this principle could not remain confined to the excessive idealism that led to frequent betrayals in the early years. After the experience of pursuing the objectives mentioned in the Preamble in the field of practice, India has done a reasonably good job of establishing statecraft of its own. However, everybody knows that more has to be done and in much less time than it has taken for what is termed as the ‘developed’ world.
Indian democracy envisages an enlightened regulatory framework at every level, but also extensive freedoms at the individual one. These often seemingly clash and the solution requires a better understanding of modern existence. In the Indian context particularly, spiritual growth is as much necessary as material advancement. Regard for nature and acknowledgement of Earth as a living entity, a Goddess, has always been part of the consciousness. The present day situation has brought this reality very much to the forefront with increased understanding through science. In dealing with climate change, for instance, it is necessary to adopt a global approach. All nations, therefore, need to cooperate with each other in creating a sustainable development model. As witnessed in the past over a year, for instance, there have emerged serious obstacles to this goal. It will take all of India’s ancient civilisational wisdom to chart a path through this situation by providing whatever leadership is required. The Republic is, from this point of view, not just a geographical entity, but also an idea that has larger dimensions that need to be experienced and practiced. Every Republic Day celebration should serve as a reminder of that.
