Every Republic Day, India celebrates its Constitution—a document admired for its vision, resilience, and democratic promise. Yet, its true relevance lies not in parades or ceremonies, but in everyday life, where constitutional morality takes meaning as a lived civic principle, not just a judicial concept. The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that constitutional values—liberty, equality, dignity, fraternity—must prevail over social prejudices. These are not ideals to be balanced against custom; they are foundational commitments. Their survival depends on citizens practicing them daily—in classrooms, workplaces, families, and communities—beyond the courtroom.
Understanding Constitutional Morality Through Everyday Choices
Let’s understand constitutional morality through a short story. Each morning, a law school teacher arrives before class begins. There’s no one at the door with a rule book, nor any risk of losing pay if he’s late. Yet he is always punctual—not out of fear or compulsion, but because he believes it is the right thing to do. This inner sense, this quiet voice that nudges us to act against injustice or stand up for the oppressed, is where morality begins.
Constitutional morality works the same way. It is not confined to courtrooms or lengthy judgments; it lives in everyday decisions, especially when no one is watching. Judicial interpretations have repeatedly upheld that “the values of the Constitution cannot be diluted by majoritarian morality or tradition,” protecting individual rights even when social opinion resists change.
However, laws alone cannot eradicate prejudice or social conditioning. Discrimination based on gender, caste, language, disability, or ideology often persists despite legal protections. If citizens delegate moral responsibility solely to institutions, the Constitution risks becoming a symbol rather than a transformative guide. A republic relies not only on courts but on every individual to embody its values. True constitutional morality begins in the heart and is reflected in small, consistent acts of integrity and justice.
Where Constitutional Morality Is Learnt
If constitutional morality is to become part of the everyday lives of Indians, it must take root early. Classrooms are often the first spaces where individuals encounter authority, discipline, fairness, and difference. They are also spaces where power and social hierarchies are subtly embedded. Despite constitutional promises, discrimination can manifest subtly: whose voice is encouraged, whose identity is marginalized, whose difference is tolerated rather than celebrated. Where questioning is discouraged, conformity rewarded, and difference stigmatized, constitutional morality erodes long before adolescence.
Civic education cannot be confined to traditional textbooks. Learning about the Constitution is not merely reciting Articles; it is about inculcating ideals. Equality must be taught through inclusion, dignity through respect, and freedom through empathy. Classrooms that embrace diversity, dissent, and discussion naturally become spaces of constitutional practice.
The principle extends beyond educational institutions. Families, organizations, and communities are equally significant arenas where constitutional morality is tested. Unwritten rules may determine whose autonomy is valued or doubted. Even where law is distant, constitutional morality applies. Its most difficult test lies in areas where legal coercion is absent—in everyday habits, customs, and hierarchies. Acting constitutionally requires moral backbone: choosing equity over convenience, equality over tradition, and dignity over dominance, even when no one is watching.
Republic Day is more than a celebration of institutions; it is a call to civic responsibility. The Constitution, as a living document, draws strength from both legal authority and societal acceptance. Citizens must harmonize personal conduct with its provisions. In today’s rapidly changing India, marked by technology and polarization, constitutional morality offers a vital beacon—enabling disagreement without denying humanity, exercising power responsibly, and preserving tradition without exclusion.
Ultimately, constitutional morality is not an abstract ideal. It is reflected in daily choices: whom we listen to, whom we respect, and whom we include. The Indian Constitution, both in courts and classrooms, asks citizens to uphold the promise it embodies. Observing Republic Day becomes a true tribute when constitutional morality quietly guides how we live.