UPSC Ethics Simplified: The Essence of Self-Sovereignty on Republic Day
Republic Day in India serves as a powerful reminder of our constitutional values and democratic responsibilities. This special occasion awakens a profound sense of duty within every citizen toward the fundamental principles of freedom, equality, fraternity, and justice. The Constitution of India, adopted on this historic day, is designed to empower citizens and advocate values that ensure every individual can live safely and with dignity in our vibrant democracy.
Understanding the Republic and Its Significance
A republic represents a system of government where ultimate power resides with the people and their elected representatives. In India, this means our President serves as an elected head of state with a fixed term, distinguishing our system from hereditary monarchies. Republic Day commemorates the adoption of our Constitution while reminding both institutions and individuals to amplify the voices of the marginalized and bridge the gap between individual interests and collective welfare.
This celebration not only makes us sovereign as a nation but also encourages us to cultivate self-sovereignty to build a better society that progresses onward and upward.
The Concept of Self-Sovereignty Explained
While political sovereignty refers to the ultimate authority in state decision-making and maintaining order, self-sovereignty represents the recognition and assertion of one's inner authority over personal life, actions, thoughts, and outcomes. This concept manifests in everyday ethical behavior that transcends mere compliance with rules.
Practical examples of self-sovereignty include:
- A citizen respecting traffic rules, public property, and queues not due to enforcement but from an internal sense of responsibility
- Individuals attempting to save lives even when not legally obligated, despite designated authorities existing for such situations
- Making ethical choices in personal and professional spheres based on constitutional values rather than external pressures
Ethical Reflections on Republic Day: Historical Perspectives
Despite decades since India became a republic, fundamental questions about ethical conduct persist in our society. Why don't we treat fellow beings simply as human beings? Why does the suffering of common people often go unnoticed? Why hasn't ethics become a consistent behavioral pattern across society? And why is ethics frequently viewed as utopian rather than practical conduct?
Consider how you would feel if a taxi driver inquired about your caste or religion before beginning a journey, or if your community identity was questioned during routine transactions. These scenarios highlight the ongoing challenges to our constitutional ideals.
History provides poignant illustrations of these struggles. A young boy traveling to Goregaon with his elder sister experienced this firsthand when a station master recoiled upon learning his Mahar identity, fearing ritual pollution. This incident made the boy realize how caste discrimination rendered human values like equality meaningless yet painfully real. Even transportation was denied until the boy himself took the reins of the carriage. This child later became Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the principal architect of India's Constitution.
Constitutional Implementation and Ongoing Challenges
On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India was fully implemented, yet Dr. Ambedkar remained apprehensive about its practical realization. He famously noted, "On January 26, 1950, we are going to enter a life of contradictions. In politics, we will have equality, but in social and economic life, there will be inequality." His personal experiences warned him that the constitutional journey would be challenging despite the document's progressive ideals.
Adam Smith's observation in The Theory of Moral Sentiments resonates here: "In solitude, we feel everything that concerns ourselves with much greater intensity..." Ambedkar too experienced this solitude until constitutional implementation began transforming society.
All aspects of daily life must function on principles of freedom, equality, fraternity, and justice. Protecting human dignity and safeguarding lives and rights constitute the very essence of constitutional justice. When this understanding falters, society risks breakdown with dire consequences.
Justice Theory and Constitutional Identity
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen emphasizes two crucial qualities in justice theory: fairness and sensitivity to outcomes. In his seminal work The Idea of Justice (2009), he argues that justice values should be universal, applicable to all people's problems and crises rather than selective implementation.
When citizens find their identity in constitutional values, divisions like Hindu or Muslim become secondary to shared national identity. At Kartavya Path during Republic Day celebrations, everyone's gaze fixes on the Indian flag, embodying our constitutional values through shared humanity.
Dr. Ambedkar's final Constituent Assembly speech on November 25, 1949, reminded the nation that the Constitution represents the nation's essence only when citizens uphold its values. His warning remains relevant: "However good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad if those who are called upon to work it happen to be a bad lot."
Why Ethics Matter on Republic Day
As citizens of this great nation, we must recognize that India places supreme value on humanity and ethics. Constitutional ideas aren't merely words on paper but living spirits meant to inhabit each citizen. This ethical spirit manifests repeatedly across various fronts.
Consider soldiers securing borders while placing nation above self, or delivery partner Moninder who, despite being a gig worker with no uniform, authority, or obligation, displayed remarkable courage. He attempted to save techie Yuvraj in Noida at personal risk and financial cost, becoming the real hero in that tragedy.
One might question linking such examples to Republic Day, but these very instances make our Republic great. The values forming our Constitution's basis—shaping institutions, society, and nation—are identical to those constituting ethical building blocks for individuals and citizens.
Every individual builds society, every citizen builds the nation, and collective values of individuals and citizens shape our Republic's values. This interconnectedness underscores why ethics discussions remain crucial on Republic Day and beyond.
Post-Read Question for UPSC Ethics Preparation
Discuss the concept of self-sovereignty in detail. Explain why this concept proves essential for building ethical citizens within a constitutional democracy like India. Consider practical examples and theoretical foundations in your response.
This article contributes to UPSC Ethics Simplified, a special series under UPSC Essentials by The Indian Express that examines news and syllabus themes from ethical perspectives, integrates case studies, and revisits core ethics concepts to help aspirants develop clarity, application skills, and value-based understanding for GS-IV preparation.
