Page 51 - Essence - 6

9 9 DO YOUR DUTIES AS AN INDIAN
DO YOUR DUTIES AS AN INDIAN

“Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right tizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right
“Every ci
in this country but wi —Sardar P
in this country but with certain duties” th certain duties”
—Sardar Patelatel
‘Fundamental Duties’ are defined as the moral obligations of all citizens to promote a

spirit of patriotism and uphold the unity of India. These duties, set out in Part IV-A of the
Constitution, concern individuals and the nation. Like the Directive Principles, they are not
enforceable by courts unless otherwise made enforceable by parliamentary law.

Our constitution has given us many constitutional or fundamental rights, but we need
to remember that it contains some constitutional or fundamental duties too. Rights and
duties are inseparable. The existence of one without the other is meaningless. You can’t

ask for a right without a corresponding duty or vice versa. They are two sides of the
same coin. Even Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The very performance of a duty secures us

our right. Rights cannot be divorced from duties.” Surprisingly, the Fundamental Duties
weren’t part of the original Indian Constitution when it was written at the time of Indian
Independence. They were later added in the constitution in1976 through a constitutional

amendment. By observing the duties, it can be concluded that these duties were taken
from Indian traditions, religions, and practices. These duties

were, essentially, the reflection of the Indian way of life.

Poem Corner

I am proud to be a citizen of India,

My country provides us with all the fundamental rights;

So I am bound to fulfill all my duties as a citizen of India,

And if I fail I can’t claim my rights.

All citizens are equal in fundamental rights and duties,

I salute my national flag and anthem with pride;

In secularism, democracy, and non-violence lies the beauty,

I respect its ideals with the Constitution as my guide.

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