Preamble row

THE National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is no stranger to controversy. From time to time, it is in the spotlight for what is perceived to be a pick-and-choose policy when it comes to including, excluding or pruning references to contemporary events — such as the Babri Masjid demolition and the Gujarat riots — and historical personalities such as the Mughal rulers. The latest row — certainly an avoidable one — is about the reported omission of the Preamble to the Constitution from several Class III and Class VI textbooks.

The very thought of making short shrift of the Preamble, whose significance and sanctity cannot be overemphasised, is revolting. Veritably the Constitution in a nutshell, it articulates the solemn resolve of the people to secure to all Indian citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The Preamble is in no way less important than fundamental duties and rights, the national anthem and the national song. All these elements have an identity and essence of their own and none can take one another’s place.

Both the NCERT as well as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have claimed that the allegations about the omission are baseless. However, instead of giving an evidence-based explanation, the minister has chosen to tear into the Congress, saying that the Opposition party’s ‘politics of lies’ has laid bare its ‘disgusting mentality’. The constitutional values enshrined in the Preamble are not the preserve of any political party. Nor should any party or government delude itself into believing that it can afford to sideline this sacred document. It is a no-brainer that the Preamble must be given pride of place in various textbooks for languages, science and social and environmental studies. Failure to do course correction would be a great disservice not only to our Constitution — which will complete 75 years of adoption by the Constituent Assembly later this year — but also to Indian democracy.