Bharat known as India is the largest democratic country of the world for having largest written Constitution. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who is the architect of it is to be credited for this. It is the best and brilliant accomplishment of Babasaheb Ambedkar who impartially brought out it and placed it in front of all in written form encompassing noble ideas of sovereignty, socialistic, secular, democratic and republic in one line and didn’t refer or define any of the particular idea of a particular group(s) or vested interest of elite class. Rather equally placed all rights, justice and duties for all citizens of the country in same line irrespective of caste, creed, gender, race, religion and region.

Though the ruling class/caste who claim themselves as Brahmins had been exploiting these downtrodden communities (SC,ST,OBC) for centuries in India, but, failed on the way when drafted Constitution by Dr. Ambedkar came into force and became law of the land. It not only freed the excluded communities of India but also brought relief in the faces of women who also were subjected to slavery within the four corners of the wall and meant as objects of pleasure. Because of this, women from all caste categories were deprived of their basic rights while male counterparts enjoyed these.

That’s why Babasaheb said, “However a good Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. On the contrary even a bad Constitution can be good if those who implement it are good.”

Regrettably, today, the same Constitution is in danger at the hands of ruling class who once exploited and subjected the marginalized sections of the society SC/ST/OBC. We are scared of them. Although the Constitution rightly states that every citizen of this country has a fundamental right and duty to respect and abide by the laws enshrined under it, but, surprisingly some of the political parties, social organizations, religious organizations and fundamentalists are violating the basic fabrics of the Constitution by raising their voice against it.

Mr. Anant Hegde, the well-known member and minister of BJP openly said that they have occupied the ruling position today to change the Constitution of India. This statement truly unfolds the reality of BJP and exposes their attitude to prevailing Constitution of the nation. To note, if BJP is not against the Constitution then the question arises here that why it has not taken any action against Mr. Hegde?

In addition, it is not only Mr. Anant Hegde who openly said things against the Constitution of India but also many leaders and politicians from the same party like Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Mr. Subramanyam Swami and some others who also give the same statements. And they say that they will make India a Hindu nation and Gita as its national scripture.

Just think the statement against the Constitution, is antinational or not? Though Babasaheb well documented and our Constitution a secular shape, but these people are trying hard to erode the credential of secularism of the nation and giving communal statements on dividing line, which ultimately are violating fundamental ethics and noble ideas of the Constitution. We common Indians will surprise if listen about following statements. Being the first citizen of the country, Hon’ble president has the fundamental responsibility to respect the Constitution and guard it to preserve. However it is quite opposite. When Mr. Ramnath Kovind the Hon’ble President of India took the oath, he took it by uttering ‘Jai Sri Ram’. Means violation of the basic fabric of secularism of India. Although preamble of the Constitution clearly states that India is a secular country, but pronouncing ‘Jai Sri Ram’ during oath taking is indeed destroying the basic tenets Indian secularism and violating fundamental principle of Indian Constitution.

Even Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi when visited America and met the then President Mr. Barrack Obama, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abott and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he gifted the Hindu religion scripture ‘The Gita’. He did the same while Xi Jinping, the President of China visited India. So, question arises here the prime minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi who took oath as PM of the nation by placing his hand on the Constitution of India is really a Prime Minister of secular India or preacher of the Hindu religion?

This act of Mr. PM is not only violating the secular credential of the Indian Constitution but also unfolding the underlying picture of him having respect only for a particular religion as Hindu preacher. Article-1 of the Indian Constitution clearly states, “India that is Bharat.” Means except Bharat India can’t be identified with any other name. But PM and other ministers while addressing identify India as ‘Hindustan.’

Is it the right way to address India as Hindustan or violation of article-1 of the Constitution? It is not only the case with BJP leaders but also Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief and Mr. Praveen Togadia, chief of VHP and some other Hindu fundamentalist organizations who time to time have been giving controversial statements by saying that they will make India a Hindu nation and Gita as its national scripture. Idea behind making India a Hindu nation by Hindu fundamentalist organizations Hindu religion known as machine of exploitation stands on the lines of caste discrimination, untouchability, class distinction, gender discrimination and draws a dividing line in the society by making some higher and some other lower.

Means completely against the idea and ideology of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice. Even the Varna vyabastha which describes four Varnas placing Brahmins at the top and Shudra at the bottom level clearly indicates the existence of inequality and hierarchy in the society. Through varna system, Brahmins have again divided Shudras into more than 6743 castes and kept them in the bottom line below the three varnas (Brahmin,Kshatriya,Vaisya) on the basis of subjection of discrimination and exploitation. Out of this Shudras are further divided into two parts such as touchable Shudra and untouchable Shudra.

As per Hindu religion Shudras do not have fundamental rights alike others in the society. And these Shudras are meant to serve the above three varnas who are in the hierarchical varna order. Neither Shudras should enjoy the right to education nor possess wealth or right to speak or right to walk in the public places. And even they don’t have right to become rulers to rule the country. If it is so, then what type of system is this? Will it serve our society today in anyway?

History witness for centuries Shudras are Mulnivasis of India were exploited. As a result these Shudras have changed their faith and have accepted other beliefs like Islam, Christianity and Sikh. But point to be remembered here that these religious minorities are not outsiders. They are also the indigenous(Mulnivasi) people of this country.

Another defacto is that in Hindu religion all category of women are equally compared with Shudras. According to Veda “Women means Shudra.” Means like Shudras women are subjected to subjugation and slavery. They don’t have fundamental rights. They are meant as objects of pleasure. To fight against all these odds Dr. B.R.Ambedkar brought out a written constitution and gave rights through it to all citizens.

After the approval of this Constitution almost 85% of Mulnivasis along with women from this country got freedom. Because, Constitution enshrined a free choice and free conscience to all irrespective of caste, class and gender. It clearly states like Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and all others have the same right. And no one is barred on any lines. Constitution has broken the barriers of all kinds of the caste system, class, gender, race and varna system and has freed the excluded communities from the bondage of slavery.

No one is superior and no one is inferior today. Rather all are equal. And all have got back the lost rights which they didn’t get and enjoy earlier like right to education and right to possession prior to implementation of Constitution. Hindu religion which once placed Brahmins at the top has declined today. It happened not for anything but because of Constitution. Whether a person is Brahmin or Shudra but after all he/she becomes equal before law.

Constitution of this nation has given equal respect to all religions and beliefs. But rising communal violence by fundamentalists are destroying this basic tenet of secularism. To gain vested interests these fundamentalist organizations are fueling communal riots and communal hatred. As a result intellectuals, social activists, artists, educationists, media people and students are coming to the streets to raise their voice against communalism.

On the other hand, by seeing these anti-secularists are attempting to erase the secular word from the Constitution and make India a Hindu nation. If India will become a Hindu nation, then, they will rule us like dictators and they will regain the power to establish Hindu dharma varna system, caste system and will destroy the spirit of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice of the nation. Which will ultimately lead to mass murder of Indian democratic spirit. And the excluded 85% mulnivasis, women and religious minorities will be again slaved as earlier.

The idea behind making ‘Gita’ the national scripture of India by Hindu fundamentalist organizations: “Chatruvarnyam Mayasrustang Guna-karma Bibhagasa Tasya Kartaram Api Mam Viddhya Akartaram Avyayam”(Gita,chapter-4, slok-13) It means, “I have created the Varna”, says Krishna. I have created Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra on the basis of nature and karma. “Brahmansya Sukhamasid Bahurajanyakrutah | Urutadsya Jadvaisya Padyavyang Shudrajayat||” (Rigveda) & Exactly same mentioned in Manusmriti (1/31) “Lokanang Tu Bibuddhyarthang Mukhabahu Rupadatah | Brahman Kshatriyang Vaisyang Shudrang Cha Niravartayet ||” It means for the development of knowledge and intelligence Brahman was created from mouth, Kshatriya was created from arms, Vaishya was created from thigh and Shudra was created from feet”, says lord Krishna. “Adhyapan Adhayang Jajanang Jajanang Tatha | Danang Pratigrahang Chaiba Brahmanamkalpayat||” It means Brahmins duty is to read, teach, offer yagnas and let others to do yagnas. And also take donations and give donations. “Prajanang Rakshanang Danamijyadhyanmevah| Bipayescha Prasaktischa Kshatriyasya Samasat||” It means to protect people, give donations and organize yagnas and read are the duties of Kshatriyas. “Eka Meva Tu Shudrasya Prabhuh Karma Samadishat | It means with devotion Shudras have to serve the three varnas is the direction of God to Shudra.

All the above mentioned sloks of the Gita clearly specifies that Shudras have the only right to serve the above three varnas and become slaves of them. But, after implementation of the Constitution Shudras are emancipated; and have got all the fundamental rights. That’s why Manuvadis and Brahmanvadis are trying to remove the Constitution and make Gita as national scripture and take back the Indian society to those days. If there will be debates on the slokas of the Gita thoroughly then again casteism will be exposed more. The Gita which has placed Brahmans at the top, Kshatriya and Vaishyas on the respective places and Shudras on the inferior bottom lines is against the basic principles of our constitution. This is nothing else than degrading and denigrating dignity of Shudras as human persons in the society and violating their human rights. We all must remember the Constitution which has given equal rights to all irrespective of caste, class, creed, race, gender and religion and is determined to establish an equal and egalitarian society is being radically tried by the fundamentalists to replace with Gita, which is against the humanism and spirit of equality, liberty, fraternity and justice. And, those who are trying to replace Constitution with Gita and recognize it as national scripture are anti Constitutionals and anti-nationals. So, all the humanitarians, egalitarians, secularists, socialists have to come forward together to protect the Constitution which is in danger. So, it is a call for us today to save our constitution from the hands of anti constitutionals and anti-nationals.

Author – Anil Kumar Mallick, State President Mulnivasi Student & Youth Front, Odisha