A constitution replaces a king.
But oh, how we love a king. We tell the country to ‘light diyas on his birthday’, and praise him high and low. And then we say we are a democracy, wave little flags, hold elections and proudly display our inked fingers.
Then, the moment the counting is over, we search for a throne, place the winner on it, hand him a crown, and become angry with anyone who asks whether His Majesty has read the Constitution.
“Do not question him,” says one loyal subject.
“Why not?” I ask.
“He knows everything.”
“Everything?”
“Everything. Yesterday he even explained artificial intelligence.”
“Does he understand it?”
The loyal subject looks offended.
“A king does not have to understand. His subjects have to applaud.”
The problem is not only with leaders. The problem is with us. We enjoy surrendering our responsibility to one powerful man. Reading a rule book is difficult. Worshipping a ruler is easy. The Constitution has many pages. A leader has one face, usually displayed on ten thousand posters.
The people of Israel had the same weakness. God had given them commandments, judges and prophets. Yet they looked at neighbouring nations and said, “They have kings. We also want one.”
God warned them what a king would do. He would take their sons for his armies, their daughters for his service, their fields, their harvests and their wealth.
The people listened carefully and replied, “Wonderful. When can he start?”
They got Saul.
Saul began with humility. He looked promising, stood taller than everyone else and probably photographed beautifully. But power entered his head, pride occupied his heart, and soon the king who was supposed to serve the people expected the people to serve him.
He thought he had replaced God. Even today, we have some who think they are divine!
It is an old story constantly receiving new editions.
Today, across the world, constitutions are quietly pushed aside while personalities grow larger. Leaders begin believing they are nations. Their followers begin believing criticism is treason. Ministers praise them, officials obey them, and television anchors appear ready to polish the throne.
India must resist this temptation.
Prime ministers, chief ministers and party leaders are not kings. Whether in Tamilnadu, Maharashtra or Delhi. They are temporary occupants of public office. They are employees of the people, governed by the Constitution. We may respect them, vote for them and even admire them, but we must never surrender our reason to them.
Our nation’s king is the Constitution.
Its birthday is not merely one date on the calendar when speeches are made and schoolchildren stand in the sun. It must be celebrated every day through justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. We should light diyas for it everyday!
Men come and go.
The Constitution must remain standing, must reign, and be the ruler of our nation. And the throne must be put back into storage. That is how it is meant to be…!