Constitution reclaimed, Republic renewed

SEVENTY five years after the adoption of the Constitution, India stands at a critical moment in its democratic journey. The Constitution has always been much more than a legal document. It is a national conscience, a binding contract, and an everyday guarantee of dignity. Its values shape the republic through courts and legislatures, yet its true power lies in public understanding. A Constitution protected only by institutions remains incomplete. A Constitution understood and cherished by citizens becomes a living force.

It is this distinction that the Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman campaign, and its successor Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Swabhiman, have attempted to address. Launched in January 2024 and integrated into the wider DISHA scheme for access to justice, the campaign moved beyond ceremonial observance. It travelled to villages, educational campuses and digital platforms. It used melas instead of lectures, pledges instead of proclamations, and real legal assistance instead of symbolic endorsements. The result is a rare experiment in civic mobilisation.

The numbers are impressive, but the method is more significant. Over one crore citizens participated through more than thirteen thousand events. Legal literacy reached over two and a half lakh Gram Panchayats. Youth took quizzes on MyGov and downloaded pledge certificates. Regional events were held in Bikaner, Prayagraj, Guwahati and the Kumbh Mela, each with local relevance. These were not merely gatherings. They were invitations for citizens to see the Constitution not just as text, but as a tool that shapes everyday life.

The transition from Samman to Swabhiman is worth close attention. Awareness is necessary, but pride is transformative. A citizen who merely knows their rights may use them occasionally. A citizen who takes pride in those rights is more likely to defend them, uphold their duties and participate in the democratic process. Swabhiman therefore signals a shift in civic tone, aligning constitutional consciousness with the larger national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. It ties pride with purpose.

Three initiatives within the campaign deserve particular mention for their structure and impact. First, Sabko Nyay Har Ghar Nyaya focused on justice as a lived experience. Through Nyaya Sahayaks, local legal messengers travelled to villages and registered more than fourteen thousand cases. Vidhi Baithaks created legal discussion spaces in blocks and Panchayats, engaging Anganwadi workers, school committees and self help groups. The Nyaya Seva Melas across twenty five States and Union Territories were crucial in bridging official institutions with the public. These efforts helped convert legal awareness into legal access.

Second, Nav Bharat Nav Sankalp targeted the youth. While constitutional values may appear distant to young students, the campaign used interactive formats and digital platforms to make engagement easier. Through pledge taking, competitions and activity driven contests, it transformed learning into participation. Youth forums are important because civic habits formed early tend to last longest. A generation that understands the Constitution as an instrument of opportunity rather than as a chapter in civics textbooks will build stronger democratic institutions.

Third, Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyaan deliberately focused on marginalised communities. In partnership with IGNOU and Doordarshan, online workshops were conducted on rights of children, women, persons with disabilities, Scheduled Castes, transgender persons and senior citizens. Gram Vidhi Chetna engaged law students to conduct village sessions. Nari Bhagidaari brought gender based legal awareness to local communities. These efforts showed that constitutional literacy is not an intellectual exercise. It is a tool of inclusion.

The campaign also showed innovation in how constitutional stories were preserved and presented. The Samvidhan Katta magazine contained 75 stories of everyday constitutional impact. A comic book narrated the journeys of ten citizens who used Tele Law services to defend their rights. Podcasts explained how legal mechanisms can be accessed by ordinary people. These formats matter because stories humanise accountability. 

Regional events added further depth. In Rajasthan, the launch of Nyaya Sahayak for aspirational blocks showcased legal innovation. In Uttar Pradesh, the launch of a dedicated Samman Portal provided citizens a digital station for legal knowledge. In Guwahati, constitutional values were brought into academic discourse through IIT and law university partnerships. The concluding celebration at the Kumbh Mela, attended by judges, scholars and citizens, symbolised that constitutional awareness can coexist with cultural tradition. When democracy enters cultural spaces, it gains roots.

The campaign therefore raises an important policy question: what comes next? Large scale mobilisation is commendable, but continuity is essential. If constitutional pride is to endure, three pathways merit serious consideration. First, legal literacy should be embedded permanently into school and college curricula, not as a subject of memorisation but as an area of problem solving. Second, Panchayats and municipalities should consider institutionalising Vidhi Baithaks and Nyaya Sahayaks as part of local governance routines. Third, the digital content produced under the campaign could be translated into regional languages and embedded in Common Service Centres so that legal access is part of every welfare conversation. 

Today’s public debate often drifts towards polarisation. In such an environment, the Constitution becomes vital as a space of common identity. The Panch Pran pledge, with its emphasis on development, duty, tradition and unity, offers a civic vocabulary both inclusive and aspirational. It reminds us that constitutional values must inform not only legal discourse but social behaviour: how we treat neighbours, how we question authority and how we perform duties.