Indian Constitution: A Story of a Framework That Survived a Civilizational Assault Orchestrated Through Electoral Means

 

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Indian Constitution: A Story of a Framework That Survived a Civilizational Assault Orchestrated Through Electoral Means

In just a couple of days—on November 26—India will celebrate Constitution Day. This is an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable fact: the Indian Constitution has endured what many consider a civilizational assault carried out through democratic and electoral mechanisms. Without delving into the detailed why, when, or who behind this assault, it is worth examining what it means for a constitutional framework to survive pressure from one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

India’s civilizational identity is ancient—arguably among the oldest known to humanity. Its belief systems span across devas, devis, asuras, rishis, munis, acharyas, and countless other spiritual and philosophical traditions. The intellectual heritage of this civilization is vast, diverse, and deeply rooted. When such a civilization, equipped with its spiritual authority and cultural memory, finds itself at odds with a modern constitutional framework, the clash can be profound. Whether that clash is justified or not is not the scope of this discussion.

What deserves emphasis is this: India has survived something immense—something that could metaphorically be compared to enduring the impact of thousands of nuclear explosions. A challenge of civilizational scale could have easily overwhelmed a document crafted only decades ago by modern thinkers. Yet, the Constitution endured.

This survival reveals something important. Despite the pressure, some part of the civilization itself recognized a connection—a sense of belonging—with the Constitution. Something within the cultural fabric chose not to let the framework collapse.

History shows that surviving an existential shock often leads to accelerated growth. Japan’s trajectory after the atomic bombings is a notable example: the nation rebuilt rapidly, advanced technologically, and redefined its future. In a similar way, India now stands at a moment where the immediate threat from its own civilizational tensions has subsided. It has the opportunity to shape its future on its own terms.

We should acknowledge this collective achievement. All of us, as participants in this democracy, have contributed to ensuring that the modern philosophical foundations of the Constitution continue to stand strong despite historical and cultural challenges.

Wishing everyone an early Happy Constitution Day.

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