(a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence?
(b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take?
(c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?

Answer

(a) Nehru used the expression “not wholly or in full measure” because according to him the task of building a nation is a gargantuan task which cannot be fulfilled in one’s lifetime.

(b) The pledge that he wanted the makers of the Indian Constitution to take was to dedicate their lives to the service of India, the Indian people and the humanity at large.

(c) He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi.

(a) Sovereign (b) Republic (c) Fraternity (d) Secular

(i) Government will not favour any religion. (ii) People have the supreme right to make decisions. (iii) Head of the state is an elected person. (iv) People should live like brothers and sisters.

Answer

(a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

A friend from Nepal has written you a letter describing the political exercises situation there. Many political parties are opposing the rule of the king. Some of them say that the existing constitution given by the monarch can be amended to allow more powers to elected representatives. Others are demanding a new Constituent Assembly to write a republican constitution. Reply to your friend giving your opinions on the subject.

Answer

In my opinion second option is best. Making small amendments does not shift whole power in hands of representatives. This does not make total responsibilty on elected representatives what will happen in next years. So, a new and well drafted constitution is right choice.

Here are different opinions about what made India a democracy. How much importance would you give to each of these factors?
(a) Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule.
(b) Freedom Struggle challenged the colonial exploitation and denial of different freedoms to Indians. Free India could not be anything but democratic.
(c) We were lucky to have leaders who had democratic convictions. The denial of democracy in several other newly independent countries shows the important role of these leaders.

Answer

(a) Democracy in India is a gift of the British rulers. We received training to work with representative legislative institutions under the British rule. 

(b) Freedom struggle was important in spreading the idea of nationalism in India and inculcating the practice of making decisions by consensus.

(c) The leaders had the desire to give freedoms to the people. India’s freedom struggle is the only example of a bloodless freedom struggle in the contemporary history. This could be possible because our nationalist leaders had the maturity to listen to others’ views.

Read the following extract from a conduct book for ‘married women’, published in 1912. ‘God has made the female species delicate and fragile both physically and emotionally, pitiably incapable of self-defence. They are destined thus by God to remain in male protection – of father, husband and son – all their lives. Women should, therefore, not despair, but feel obliged that they can dedicate themselves to the service of men’. Do you think the values expressed in this para reflected the values underlying our constitution? Or does this go against the constitutional values?

Answer

the values expressed in this para is totally contradictory to the values underlying our constitution. Here, women are treated as weak while in our constitution men and women bothare treated equal. The governmental policies also favour women to bring them in mainstream.

Read the following statements about a constitution. Give reasons why each of these is true or not true.
(a) The authority of the rules of the constitution is the same as that of any other law.
(b) Constitution lays down how different organs of the government will be formed.
(c) Rights of citizens and limits on the power of the government are laid down in the constitution.
(d) A constitution is about institutions, not about values.

Answer

(a) Not True
Constitution is the supreme law. It describes how government elects and their powers, rights of citizens and their protection. This is totally different than any other law.

 

(b) True

Constitution defines the role of the legislature, the executive and the judiciary and how they should be formed and by whom. 
(c) True
Constitutional setup limits the power of government through dfferent institutions and also talks about the right of citizens.

(d) Not True
The Constitution contains all the values which the institutions have to promote. The Preamble to the Constitution is a shining example of this and states clearly that justice, liberty, equality and fraternity have to be promoted. Secularism has to be followed and socialism and democracy should be the basis of the government. 

1. Somnath lahiri ( 1901-1984)

2. Born- West Bengal

3. Writer and Editor.

4. Leader of Communist Party of India.

5. Later member of West Bengal legislative Assembly 

1. We the people of United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insecure domestic tranquility.

2. Provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

3. Do ordain and establish the constitution for the United States of America.