NCERT Book Class 11 Political Science (Indian Constitution at Work) Chapter 10 The Philosophy of the Constitution

Indian Constitution at Work

Chapter Ten
THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE CONSTITUTION

INTRODUCTION
In this book, so far we have studied some important provisions of our Constitution
and the way in which these have worked in the last 69 years. We also studied
the way in which the Constitution was made. But have you ever asked yourself
why leaders of the national movement felt the need to adopt a constitution after
achieving independence from British rule? Why did they choose to bind
themselves and the future generations to a constitution? In this book, you have
repeatedly visited the debates in the Constituent Assembly. But it should be
asked why the study of the constitution must be accompanied by a deep
examination of the debates in the Constituent Assembly? This question will be
addressed in this chapter. Secondly, it is important to ask what kind of a
constitution we have given ourselves. What objectives did we hope to achieve
by it? Do these objectives have a moral content? If so, what precisely is it? What
are the strengths and limitations of this vision and, by implication, the achievements
and weaknesses of the Constitution? In doing so, we try to understand what can
be called the philosophy of the Constitution.
After reading this chapter, you should be able to understand:
± why it is important to study the philosophy of the Constitution;
220 ± what are the core features of the Indian Constitution;
± what are the criticisms of this Constitution; and
± what are the limitations of the Constitution?