Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday paid tribute to the members of the Constituent Assembly, stating that “in every page of the Constitution, we see the soul of our nation.” He was speaking at the 75th anniversary of Constitution Day held at Samvidhan Sadan in Parliament.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers and MPs also attended the event.
In his address, the Vice President said that the Constitution embodies the “collective wisdom, sacrifice and dreams of millions who fought for freedom.” He recalled the contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Durgabai Deshmukh and other members of the Constituent Assembly. He described their work as the foundation that made India the world’s largest democracy.
Radhakrishnan said that the Constitution was created from “intellect, lived experiences, sacrifices, hopes and aspirations” and asserted that “the soul of our Constitution has proved that Bharat is one and will be one forever.”
Reviewing the country’s progress, he said that India has risen to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and is “very soon” expected to become the third. According to him, 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty in the last decade, and digital platforms have enabled 100 crore citizens to access social security schemes.
The Vice President said, “This year, we commemorated the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patelji, Bhagwan Birsa Mundaji, and also of our patriotic national song Vande Mataram. The pain and the sacrifice of our freedom fighters inspired us and will continue to inspire generations to come. This fosters the spirit of patriotism, pride, and loyalty in the young minds of India.”
He emphasised that democracy has long-standing roots in India, citing examples from Vaishali in the north and the Chola-era “kudavolai” system in the south. He added that public participation remains essential: “No democracy can survive without the conscious contribution of the citizen.”
Referring to elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, he said that the “large voter turnout shows their faith in democracy.” He also noted high participation by women in the recent Bihar elections.
Radhakrishnan paid tribute to women members of the Constituent Assembly, quoting Hansa Mehta: “What we have asked for is social justice, economic justice, and political justice.” He said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which establishes one-third reservation for women in legislatures, is “a befitting tribute” to their contributions.
Speaking from his experience as Governor in three states, he acknowledged the role of tribal communities in the freedom movement and welcomed the recognition of their contributions through Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas since 2021.
He said that the Constitution reflects India’s commitment to social justice, especially for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and other marginalised groups. The ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity in the Preamble, he said, ensure “every citizen has a rightful place regardless of caste, creed, gender, language, region or religion.”
Calling for reforms in electoral, judicial and financial sectors, the Vice President said policies such as GST and the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) system have strengthened governance. He noted that Direct Benefit Transfer has ensured that welfare schemes reach beneficiaries without intermediaries.
He urged greater use of modern technology to achieve the goal of a developed India and emphasised duty-consciousness among citizens and elected representatives. “No country can be made great without the contribution of the people,” he said.
Radhakrishnan concluded by saying the greatest tribute to the Constitution is to “live up to its values.”