The Hindu Editorial Analysis
5 July 2025
A deliberate strategy to usher in a communal order
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
Topic: GS 2: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Context
The right-wing assault on the Constitution must be countered through public awareness, legal action, political mobilisation, and democratic resistance.
Introduction
Just before the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India strongly confirmed that “secular” and “socialist” are important parts of the Constitution’s Preamble. These words were added in 1976 during the Emergency, under Indira Gandhi’s government, through the 42nd Amendment. Over the years, some right-wing groups have tried to challenge and remove these words through legal and political efforts. However, the Supreme Court recently rejected several petitions that questioned their inclusion. The Court said that just because these words were not in the original Preamble of 1949, it does not mean they are invalid or unconstitutional now.
Judiciary’s Stand vs. RSS-BJP’s Ideological Offensive
- The judiciary’s reaffirmation of secularism and socialism in the Constitution was a clear and powerful signalupholding India’s foundational values.
- In response, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — the ideological nucleus of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — launched a renewed attack on the very idea of India enshrined in the Constitution.
- RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale openly called for the removal of the terms “secular” and “socialist” from the Preamble, claiming they were not part of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s original constitutional vision.
- Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar escalated the rhetoric by calling the inclusion of these terms a “sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatan”.
- The timing and status of these statements — emerging from top constitutional offices — are not accidental. They reflect a coordinated political narrative.
- This is not a scholarly or legal debate — it is a deliberate political strategy aimed at:
- Delegitimising the vision of a modern, plural, democratic India
- Replacing it with a communal, hierarchical, and exclusionary order
Constitutional Consensus on Secularism
When the Constitution was being framed, the Constituent Assembly stood united and unequivocal in its endorsement of a secular state. There was not a single voice advocating for a theocratic polity. This overwhelming consensus reflected the founding vision of India as a nation rooted in unity in diversity — a decisive rejection of:
- Colonial divide-and-rule tactics
- Communal politics
- Caste and religious supremacy
Present Challenge: From Consensus to Crisis
Today, this foundational consensus is under sustained attack. The RSS-BJP establishment is actively pursuing a Hindu Rashtra agenda — one that seeks to reshape India’s constitutional identity. What was once considered fringe rhetorichas now entered the political mainstream.
- On the day of the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a symbolic and provocative assertion: “Ram is Rashtra, Dev is Desh”
- This statement blurs the line between religion and state — something the Constitution explicitly sought to prevent.
What the Framers Intended vs. Today’s Fusion of Faith and State
| Foundational Ideal | Current Contradiction |
| Secularism endorsed by all members of the Constituent Assembly | Fusion of religion and nationalism in political discourse |
| Unity in diversity as core national ethos | Push toward Hindu majoritarianism |
| Constitution designed to avoid theocratic state | Statements equating religion with nationhood |
| Supreme Court ruling: Secularism is part of the basic structure | Political actions defying the spirit and letter of the Constitution |
Historical Warnings and Enduring Relevance
The cautionary voices of India’s founding leaders echo louder today than ever before. Their emphasis on secularism, constitutional morality, and social justice was not mere idealism — it was a safeguard against the very threats we face in contemporary politics.
Key Historical Assertions: Secularism as Constitutional Core
| Leader | Year | Key Message |
| Mahatma Gandhi | 1931 | In his Resolution on Fundamental Rights, stressed that the State must remain neutral in religious matters. |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | 1940s | Asserted: “The State shall not recognise any religion as State religion.” |
| Hindu Mahasabha (Ironically) | 1944 | Despite boycotting the freedom struggle, its Hindustan Free State Act contained a clause supporting religious neutrality. |
Constituent Assembly Debates: Voices for a Secular Republic
- Govind Ballabh Pant (Aug 27, 1947):
- Asked pointedly: “Do you want a real national secular State or a theocratic State?”
- Warned of exclusion and insecurity for religious minorities if India turned into a theocracy.
- Jaspat Roy Kapoor (Nov 21, 1949):
- Reiterated Gandhi’s belief: Religion is a personal matter, not the domain of the state.
- Begum Aizaz Rasul (Nov 22, 1949):
- Called secularism “the most outstanding feature” of the Constitution.
- Urged it be kept “guarded and unsullied.”
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Oct 14, 1949):
- Assured that the Indian Constitution would not be disfigured by communal provisions.
- T.J.M. Wilson (Nov 23, 1949):
- Warned presciently about clouds forming over India’s secular character — a vision now frighteningly real.
Socialism: Economic Justice Rooted in the Constitution
| Aspect | Explanation |
| Ambedkar’s Vision | Part IV’s Directive Principles reflect socialist ideals – not imported theories, but homegrown visions of justice. |
| Supreme Court Verdict | Interpreted “socialist” in the Preamble as advocating a welfare state, ensuring equality, justice, and economic dignity. |
| Real Goals of Socialism | – End caste exploitation – Abolish landlessness – Tackle poverty – Ensure non-discrimination |
Ambedkar’s Final Warning and Contemporary Crisis
“If Hindu Raj does become a fact, it will, no doubt, be the greatest calamity for this country… Hindu Raj must be prevented at any cost.” — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Pakistan or the Partition of India
- Today, that cost is upon us.
- The RSS-led campaign to remove the terms “secular” and “socialist” is part of a calculated move to:
- Dismantle the modern constitutional republic
- Promote religious supremacy and caste hierarchy
- Push market fundamentalism over welfare
- Cement authoritarian political structures
The need for resistance
- This growing threat must be firmly resisted — not just through isolated efforts, but through widespread public awareness, legal challenges, political mobilisation, and a sustained democratic mass movement.
- The Constitution of India is far more than a legal document;
- it is a political, social, and moral pact, born out of the freedom struggle and shaped by the sacrifices of martyrs, revolutionaries, and visionary constitutionalists.
- It enshrines the ideal of an India that belongs equally to all its citizens.
Conclusion
In today’s context, defending the principles of secularism and socialism is inseparable from defending democracy itself. It means standing up for the rights and dignity of every Indian — irrespective of religion, caste, class, or gender — and upholding the values of equality, freedom, and justice. The Republic is not self-sustaining; it must be protected, nurtured, and when threatened, defended — even from forces that emerge within. That is our collective responsibility, and we must meet it with courage, clarity of purpose, and an unshakeable resolve.