Fraternity in Indian Constitution: Origin, Challenges, and Way Forward

Context: 

This article is based on the news “Path of brotherhood will ensure India’s progress, says Mohan Bhagwat” which was published in the Hindu. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief recently emphasised the importance of fostering ‘bhaichara’ (brotherhood) among people.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Emphasises Brotherhood for India’s Progress on Republic Day

• Abiding by Constitutional Values: He stressed that the nation’s citizens had given the Constitution to themselves, emphasising the need for upholding and abiding by its values.
• Civic Responsibility: He stated that although the government has the ‘technical’ responsibility of implementing and protecting the Constitution, the citizens have the main role of implementing it through their conduct.
• Rising Incidents of Communalism: The call for brotherhood coincides with instances of communal violence reported in various states following the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
  • An incident of stone pelting was reported in Vadodara, Gujarat on a Shobha Yatra taken out to celebrate the event.
  • During a similar procession in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, firecrackers were reported to be ignited in front of a mosque.
  • Communal violence took place in Mumbai’s Mira Road, following the Ram Mandir inauguration.

What is Fraternity?

• It refers to the idea of brotherhood and solidarity among citizens of a nation and inculcates a sense of unity, social harmony, and mutual respect among individuals.
  • In its most literal sense, fraternity refers to a feeling of friendship and mutual support that exists between members of a group. 
• Context of Dr Ambedkar’s Writings: It also refers to individuals in Indian society breaking free of the caste system and practising social harmony and contact in a freer and more inclusive way.
  • According to him, Fraternity is only another name for democracy.
• Related ideas: Some ideas related to fraternity include empathy, solidarity, collective caring, and love.

Origin of the Concept of Fraternity

• Ancient Age: 
  • Plato: The sharing of knowledge and love in the pursuit of wisdom are elements of fraternity.
  • Aristotle: Justice and friendship among citizens were the most enduring features of the state and it became the idea of political fraternity.
• Mediaeval Age: During the Middle Ages, it was associated with religion, particularly within the context of Christian society in Europe.
• French Revolution: The concept of fraternity gained political significance during  the French Revolution of 1789 by the revolutionary trinity “liberte, egalite, fraternite.”.
• Fraternity in India: The drafting committee included a clause on “fraternity” in the Preamble, which was earlier not a part of the Objective Resolution.

Fraternity in Indian Constitution

• Preamble: The Preamble to the Constitution says that the Indian republic aims to promote fraternity, “assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation”. 
  • Preamble also specifies that the nation will secure not just political and economic justice for its citizens, but also social. This is significant considering deep division in Indian society. 
• Fundamental Duty – Article 51A(e): The duty of every citizen is to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India.
• Source of affirming “the dignity of the individual”: The Constitution views fraternity significantly considering it as a source of affirming “the dignity of the individual” .
• This is accomplished by recognising the moral equality of individuals, upheld through mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender.
• Unity of the Nation: Both Ambedkar and the Constitution derive the unity of the nation from fraternity wherein a sense of mutual belonging and respect transcends all other differences between the people.

Challenges with Fraternity in India

• Ideological Differences: Fraternity amongst individuals is hindered by ideological differences, hence one needs to have a secular understanding of fraternity and politics. 
• Casteism:  The caste system in India, not only contradicts the principles of equality and liberty but also poses challenges to the individual-centric approach upheld by the Constitution.
  • There is a widespread caste-centric unity that frequently alienates and excludes those from lower castes.
• Communalism: Although the Indian Constitution prioritises the individual within the trio of liberty, equality, and fraternity, the civic life in India predominantly revolves around communal lines leading to conflicts with community interests.
• Social Inequalities: Fraternity loses its essence if it ignores existing social disparities. It cannot be built on social solidarity that ignores these differences.
  • Such solidarity often serves to uphold the existing social hierarchy, benefiting the already privileged while perpetuating the subjugation of the underprivileged.
• Fundamentalism: Fundamentalism in every form undermines the idea of fraternity. A fanatic may exhibit many traits and any sort of fundamentalism (rigid and extreme thinking) hampers the true fraternal connections.
• Poor Protection Under the Law: While equality in law exists, it does not always translate into equal protection under the law, neglecting constitutional morality and exacerbating social division. 
  • There is a failure of local compassion, of any kind of fraternity of local people as people just stood by  and captured videos of such hate crimes by the perpetrators but never intervening to stop the mobs or to save the victims. 

Advancing Brotherhood in India: A Path Forward

• Gandhian Approach to Communal Harmony: He promoted the practice of universal religion. 
  • He conducted prayer meetings and emphasised that reverence is more than tolerance. 
  • He preached respect for all religions where Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Christians and Jews should live as one nation and not as followers of different religions.
• Addressing Caste Dynamics: Need to address caste dynamics to inculcate fraternity as caste and the idea of political fraternity cannot coexist.
  • The caste system imposes rigid restrictions on interactions among various castes and sub-castes. 
  • For Ambedkar, a democratic nation meant the removal of such hierarchies.
• Political conditioning: The fraternity in India must be grounded in politics, where the  caste privilege can be contested. 
  • It requires careful cultivation and reinforcement through political means, rather than relying solely on moral considerations. 
  • One of the central aims behind the implementation of various affirmative actions, including the reservation system, was to foster equality among vastly disparate social groups in terms of their access to social and economic opportunities
• Countering Religious fanaticism: Strict actions and steps should be taken to bring equality and counter the notion of fundamentalism and religious discrimination.
  • This goal can only be achieved by fundamentally accepting the principle of equality. 
  • Without this fundamental understanding, fraternal bonds may indeed exist, but they tend to remain confined within caste groups rather than extending across them. 
• Raising Awareness on Fraternity:  Creating awareness among people about the constitutional principle of fraternity will help in building a discourse of justice, equality, rights, and empowerment possible.
• Integration with Constitutional Value: The government should make necessary public investments and strive to ensure a minimally decent life for all persons as enshrined in the fundamental duties and directive principles.
  • This will reduce inequalities and foster a sense of brotherhood among the fellow citizens.

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