Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Sound and fury: On the parliamentary debate on the Constitution

​Sound and fury: On the parliamentary debate on the Constitution

The Constitution might be a unifier (एकीकृत करने वाला), but the debate exposed polarisation

The parliamentary debate on the Constitution turned out to be yet another occasion of intense diatribe (कटु आलोचना, तीखा और कड़वा आलोचना) between the ruling alliance and the Opposition. While both sides agreed on the supremacy of the Constitution, now in its 75th year, each accused the other of undermining it. The debate could have been an opportunity to explore a new common ground for a sharply polarised polity, but, unfortunately, that is not how it played out. Speakers from parties in power, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Opposition speakers led by the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, railed against their political opponents and used the Constitution as a facade (मुखौटा, बाहरी दिखावा) for their partisan (पक्षपाती, समर्थक) politics. Mr. Gandhi views the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mr. Modi as disloyal to the Constitution, and sought to connect it all to the Hindutva ideology. Mr. Modi singled out Mr. Gandhi’s family, starting from his great-grandfather and the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for a no-holds-barred attack — that it has undermined the Constitution through acts of omission (Something left out or excluded) and commission. Both sides used facts selectively and the statements of past actors to exaggerate the point that their opponents did more harm to the Constitution than they themselves. Such an approach may work as a propaganda strategy but can do little in terms of constructive (रचनात्मक) engagement on the question.

The Constitution, understood as a living document, provides the foundation and the framework for a fairer social, political and economic order for the country. Constitutionalism is an evolving project, and any discussion on it must account for this dynamism. History is a good teacher, but litigating (मुकदमा करना, कानूनी विवाद उठाना) the past endlessly is not a helpful learning technique. There have been many dark moments in the 75-year history of the Constitution, including the imposition of Emergency, but the brighter and bigger picture is that it still offers the strongest possible ethos (मूलभाव) for a secular, pluralist and progressive (प्रगतिशील) nation. The BJP and the Congress calling each other names is akin (समान, संबंधित, एक जैसा) to the pot calling the kettle black. Both sides say they are for strengthening the unity of the country, but accuse each other of dividing the country. What emerges from the debate is that there is a lot of blame to go around; what were missing were introspection (आत्मनिरीक्षण) and self-reflection. Mr. Modi is right in saying that the Constitution is a unifier of the nation, and cited his government’s push for a uniform civil code as an example of the commitment to advancing this unity. Uneven demographic and economic trends will require close and unified attention by the political class in the decades ahead to reimagine the constitutional scheme. Sadly, little time was spent on these questions.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Fury (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - क्रोध , गुस्सा
English Meaning - Extreme anger or rage.

2.Unifier (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकीकृत करने वाला
English Meaning - Someone or something that brings people or things together.

3.Diatribe (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - कटु आलोचना, तीखा और कड़वा आलोचना
English Meaning - A forceful and bitter verbal attack.

4.Facade (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुखौटा, बाहरी दिखावा
English Meaning - A deceptive outward appearance; the front of a building.

5.Partisan (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - पक्षपाती, समर्थक
English Meaning - A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.

6.Constructive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - रचनात्मक
English Meaning - Serving a useful and positive purpose.

7.Litigate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - मुकदमा करना, कानूनी विवाद उठाना
English Meaning - To take a dispute to a law court for resolution.

8.Progressive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रगतिशील
English Meaning - Favoring or promoting progress or improvement.

9.Introspection (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - आत्मनिरीक्षण
English Meaning - The act of examining one’s own thoughts and feelings.

10.Akin (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - समान, संबंधित, एक जैसा
English Meaning - Similar in character or related by nature.

11.Omission (Noun)

English Meaning - Something left out or excluded.

12.Ethos (Noun)

English Meaning - The characteristic spirit or beliefs of a community or culture.