Republic Day 2019: Here's What Preamble to Constitution Says About India, Freedom And Social Justice

India is celebrating its 70th Republic Day today. The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950. Therefore, every year on January 26, Republic Day is celebrated. The preamble to the Constitution of India briefly highlights the core principles of the document and the ideals which India adopted post-independence. India Republic Day Parade 2019 Live News Updates: Tableaus of 22 States & Govt Departments to Feature in Marquee R-Day Event.

The preamble to the Constitution can be considered the heart and soul of the document. Till 1976, it described the state (India) as a "sovereign democratic republic". With the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976 by then prime minister Indira Gandhi, the preamble to the Constitution asserted that India is a "secular" and "socialist" nation. Republic Day 2019: List of Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties Enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Describing the preamble as the way of life, Dr BR Ambedkar, the architecture of the Constitution, said: "It recognizes liberty, equality, and fraternity as the principles of life and which cannot be divorced from each other: Liberty cannot be divorced from equality; equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things."

Here's the full text of Preamble to Constitution of India:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 26th day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Happy Republic Day to all.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 26, 2019 09:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).