New Delhi: On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, philosopher and author Acharya Prashant emphasized that the true essence of the republic extends beyond the constitutional framework. He stated that the strength of a republic lies in the inner awareness of its citizens.
He explained, “Republic means that no external power can rule over you. No king, queen, or traditional authority can govern you. ‘Gan’ means people, and the people themselves create their system of governance, which is why democracy goes hand in hand with a republic.”
However, Acharya Prashant warned that the greatest challenge today comes not from outside but from within. “Just as it is essential that no external king rules us, it is equally important that our primitive instincts, unexamined beliefs, and ego do not govern us internally,” he said. He clarified that ignorance within, which exploits us, is often more dangerous than any external invader.
Speaking about the preamble of the Constitution, he remarked, “I often say that the words in the preamble are the spiritual heart of the Constitution. It declares, ‘We, the people of India, solemnly resolve to dedicate this Constitution to ourselves.’ ‘We, the people’ means no one else will dominate us. ‘Solemnly resolve’ means the Constitution comes from our will, not compulsion. ‘Dedicate this Constitution’ means we decide how we want to live.”
On the connection between inner and outer freedom, he cited the Bhagavad Gita example: “On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, when Arjuna faced a difficult external war, Lord Krishna did not teach him how to fight externally but imparted inner knowledge.” He added, “One who possesses inner freedom cannot be enslaved externally.”
Discussing the Constitution’s core ideals, Acharya Prashant observed, “Ego dislikes embracing the high ideals like socialism, secularism, fraternity, and equality embedded in the Constitution. This shows the spiritual foundation of the Constitution. We proclaim ourselves as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. These are lofty words, but none can be realised without inner light.”
On democracy, he noted, “If the common man is not awakened, democracy turns into mob rule.” Regarding socialism, he said, “The common man feels content only when he has more money than his neighbour.” Similarly, ego wants its own sect to be supreme, reducing secularism to mere words. “Justice, freedom, equality, fraternity—these beautiful words gain meaning only through our inner illumination; otherwise, they remain external principles, beautiful but superficial,” he added.
Addressing the youth, Acharya Prashant said, “A nation is not just a piece of land. It primarily means the people living in it. ‘Gan’ means us, the people. We must uplift ourselves.” He stressed that greatness cannot be left to the past or a few leaders but must come from every common person.
He clarified the role of spirituality, “The word spirituality is often misunderstood as something distant or complex. For me, it simply means self-observation—not supporting our own weaknesses, faults, or limitations.”
He concluded with optimism, “When ordinary Indians start doing this, India will rapidly become great—so great that the whole world will want to learn from us, making ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ truly meaningful.”
On Indian nationalism, he said, “Our nationalism is neither like Jinnah’s, Hitler’s, nor the Balkans’. Such nationalism is violent. Our nationalism, as enshrined in the Constitution, seeks no enemies and is beneficial for the whole world.”
In his final message, Acharya Prashant stated, “Ultimately, it’s not about ideals but about the person. We need good, strong, elevated, self-aware human beings. Our Constitution demands this. When Indians become great, making India great will become easy.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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