Our Living Constitution: A Concise Introduction & Commentary

The Constitution of India is of paramount importance to every Indian. It bestows fundamental rights on all citizens speaks in their name charges those it empowers to protect these rights and seeks to shield the people from abusers of power and privilege. It creates the basic framework of our democracy including the three main organs of the statethe legislature the executive and the judiciary. The Constitution defines their powers delimits their jurisdictions demarcates their responsibilities and regulates their relationships with one another and with the people. It privileges an idea of India that transcends religious ethnic linguistic and other sub-national identities. In the words of its principal architect Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Our Constitution provides us a magnificent structure beneath which all Indians of all castes creeds and languages can equally seek shelter. Yet despite its significance and valueand the fact that it seems to be in vogue at the momentnot many have a proper understanding of the various aspects of the Constitution that are currently being debated and challenged. Although there have been numerous studies and interpretations of the Constitution there are few accessible books available to intelligent lay readers to enable them to familiarize themselves with its essential elements history and immeasurable grandeur. Our Living Constitution seeks to fill that gap. With the clear-eyed scholarship cogent arguments and readable prose that are the hallmarks of his books bestselling writer and leading public intellectual Shashi Tharoor provides readers with a compelling narrative about the worlds longest written national Constitution. He describes the various parts of the Constitution beginning with its resounding preamble and then goes on to explain its historical roots. He explores the civic nationalism that animated Indias Founding Fathers which in turn invested the Constitution with its progressiveness pluralism tolerance liberalism and concern for the individual. He analyses how it has been able to resist attempts by autocrats and religious fanatics to change its basic structure. However the perils remainin the twenty-first century the growth of sectarianism and illiberalism has threatened to undermine Indian society and the Constitution which undergirds it and constant vigilance is necessary to ensure these threats to the idea of India do not succeed. Yet as the author writes: There is no reason to lose hope. Over the past five years democracy- and liberty-loving citizens of India have risen to reclaim our republic... Will they prevail? Will the Constitution continue to protect and advance the idea of India? Our Living Constitution provides nuanced answers to these important questions. Informative learned and lucid this is a book that must be read by all Indians to gain an understanding of the Constitution that safeguards every aspect of our lives.