Milind Babasaheb Thokal
As we mark the 76th Republic Day of our nation, we must reflect on the historic moment when India embraced its Constitution 75 years ago. A Constitution that was not merely imposed but was debated, discussed, drafted, deliberated, adopted, and approved by the Constituent Assembly. It is a document that reflects the vision and aspirations of a diverse nation, a document crafted by the citizens for their governance – a living testament to the democratic ideals that were meant to guide the future of the Republic.
But, what exactly does the term Republic signify? What does a Democratic Republic entail? And what about Social Democracy? To critically assess where we stand today, it’s essential to understand these terms and how they are meant to function in the Indian system and the structure.
What is a Republic?
The term Republic originates from the Latin phrase res publica, meaning “the public thing”. It refers to a nation-state governed by laws, with the highest office of the state not occupied by a hereditary monarch but by an elected representative. In a Republic, sovereignty lies with the people rather than with any particular individual or ruling family. India, as a Republic, operates under its Constitution, which acts as the supreme document laying down principles of governance, with specific checks and balances on the powers of the government.
What is a Democratic Republic?
A Democratic Republic refers to a state where the people are not only the ultimate sovereigns but also have the means to participate actively in decision-making processes. In such a system, citizens have the right to elect their representatives through regular, free, and fair elections. India’s Constitution, in its preamble, declares the nation to be a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. This means that India is not just a Republic but a democracy that places the sovereignty of the people at its heart.
The Vision of Social Democracy
The concept of Social Democracy goes beyond political democracy. It advocates for the equitable distribution of resources and power across all segments of society, ensuring that the social, economic, and political systems provide justice, equality, and fraternity for all. This idea is embedded in the Constitution, which promises to eliminate social inequalities and establish a society where every individual, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or economic status, has the opportunity to thrive.
However, as we assess the reality today, the gap between the vision of the Constitution and the lived experience of millions of Indians remains stark.
Where Do We Stand Today?
Despite having one of the most progressive and detailed Constitutions in the world, India’s experience in implementing its ideals has been far from perfect. The Constitution envisioned a democratic Republic where power, resources, and opportunities would be shared equitably among all citizens. However, what we witness in practice is a society deeply entrenched in caste-based inequalities, where the marginalized – Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), religious minorities, and economically disadvantaged groups – remain at the periphery of political, social, and economic power.
Despite significant policy initiatives aimed at uplifting these communities, the structural inequalities persist. Reports from institutions like the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and NITI Aayog highlight the persistent gaps in income, education, and healthcare between the privileged and marginalized groups. For instance, studies show that Dalits and Adivasis are disproportionately represented among the poorest sections of the population, and their access to quality education, healthcare, and employment remains severely limited.
The problem lies in the pervasive caste-based social structure that continues to dominate Indian society. As Marxist Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony explains, the ruling class in a society maintains its dominance not just through political and economic power but through the control of cultural institutions like; education, media, religion, and more. In India, this has translated into a caste-based hegemony, where the upper castes continue to hold most of the power in political, social, and economic spheres.
This power structure is further entrenched by the political elite, who, despite being democratically elected, often perpetuate these inequalities for the sake of maintaining their own position. Political parties, while claiming to champion the rights of marginalized communities, often cater to the interests of the upper caste and elite groups, making only tokenistic efforts toward social reform. Consequently, the promise of equality remains elusive.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Vision and Warning
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the principal architect and the father of the Indian Constitution, warned against this very outcome in his address to the Constituent Assembly on 24th November 1949. He stated that, “I feel, However good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of State such as the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depends are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the people of India and their purposes or will they prefer revolutionary methods of achieving them? If they adopt the revolutionary methods, however good the Constitution may be, it requires no prophet to say that it will fail. It is, therefore, futile to pass any judgement upon the Constitution without reference to the part which the people and their parties are likely to play.”
In his speech on 26th January 1950, Dr. Babasaheb warned of the dangers of living with contradictions – “We are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social, economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy”.
Dr. Babasaheb’s warning seven decades ago is still relevant and there is no transformation to build a nation that stands by the principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in its true sense. The Indian Constitution is now a settled document into the hands of the upper caste. The ruling social class and the state has a nexus which has completely blown the structure of the Democratic Republic. They have moulded the Constitution as per their status quo and privilege to maintain their caste purity in all the institutions i.e. Societal and State. People hate the Constitution and its founding father Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a person who fought against all the odds of this society. He liberated each and every one from the clutches of this barbaric, inhumane and gangrenous heart of society but how much do we follow him in our daily lives. He revolted against each and every one without fear just to make this nation a magnificent human place. Where everyone would be respected with dignity. But today it looks more shallow. This nation looks like an empire of a ruling caste. Whose Republic, is it? Frankly it does not belong to us.
Is India Truly a Democratic Republic?
Today, we must ask: Is India truly a Democratic Republic in the sense the Constitution envisaged? Are we living by the principles of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, or has the Constitution itself been co-opted to serve the interests of the privileged few? The answer, unfortunately, appears to be that India is far from realizing the true vision of a democratic Republic as intended by Dr. Babasaheb and the framers of the Indian Constitution.
The reality is that the upper-caste and elite sections continue to control the levers of power in all the spheres. Whether it is in the judiciary, executive, bureaucracy, or legislature, the lack of diversity and representation from marginalized communities is glaring. According to a report by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), there is a significant underrepresentation of Dalits and Adivasis in senior positions across government institutions, including the judiciary, the civil services, and the political sphere.
Moreover, the debate around meritocracy often serves to perpetuate these inequalities. Merit is frequently defined in terms of the resources one has access to whether it be a strong educational background, social capital, or financial means which disproportionately favours the upper castes and the wealthy. This flawed understanding of merit continues to perpetuate the cycle of inequality.
Whose Republic Is It?
It may be perceived as an unconventional or incorrect assumption but, to critically examine every facet of our society and state. Open your eyes to the pervasive influence of caste, which has severely undermined the collective national identity. Analyse the diversity you often applaud, and cheer for, the flawed concept of meritocracy, and the intellectual dishonesty perpetuated by the academic elites who maintain their privileged status. Go and blow yourself first into this caste hegemony, destroy it and come out of your privilege and then tell whose Republic is it!? Mine or Yours!? Transcend your inherent privileges, and only then reflect on the true ownership of this Republic. Is it genuinely a Republic for all, or does it belong only to a select few? Clearly, it does not belong to us equally, in any meaningful or just sense.
Whose Republic are we celebrating on this Republic Day? Is it the Republic of the privileged few, or a truly inclusive Republic that represents the aspirations of all its citizens, irrespective of caste, class, or religion?
Dr. Babasaheb’s vision of a just society, free from the shackles of caste-based oppression, is yet to be realized. To achieve this, we must confront the realities of caste-based discrimination and hegemonic power structures head-on. Only then can we genuinely say that India is a Democratic Republic – “A Republic that belongs to all, equally, and in every sense of the term”.
Until we dismantle the structures of caste-based privilege and ensure equitable access to power and resources for all, the question of whose Republic it is will remain unanswered.
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Milind Babasaheb Thokal has completed, B.A. (English Litt.), LL.B, LL.M, and is currently a practicing as an advocate at Bombay High Court and District and Sessions Court, Pune.
