‘Fraternity’ in the Constitution

‘Fraternity’ in the Constitution

Context: Fraternity is one of the constitutional values that have received the maximum neglect both in the world of ideas and in the political field of action.

What is Fraternity?
• Fraternity in the Indian Constitution is a concept that signifies a sense of common brotherhood of all Indians — of Indians being one
people. It is the principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life.
• While the morals of the Preamble like – Justice, Equality, and Liberty have been explicitly and implicitly ensured through Fundamental
Rights, Directive Principles and other constitutional provisions, this is not the case with Fraternity.

Fraternity in India:
• The Preamble of the Indian Constitution mentions fraternity as one of its objectives. It ends with “… and to promote among them all
fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.”.
• Article 38 of the Directive Principles of State Policy states: 'The state shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting a social order that fosters fraternity among the citizens.'
• Article 15 - This article prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It promotes fraternity by ensuring that the state does not discriminate against any citizen.
• Article 17 - Article 17 abolishes 'untouchability' and forbids its practice in any form. It aims to eliminate a deeply rooted form of social discrimination and promote fraternity among all citizens.

What are the recent threats to the idea of Fraternity in India?
• True political fraternity cannot exist if it ignores social inequalities. If fraternity is based on hatred towards an imaginary enemy, it only maintains the existing social hierarchy, benefiting the privileged while oppressing the underprivileged.
• The call for fraternity is often replaced by aggressive nationalism that targets religious minorities as enemies. This kind of rhetoric has been used to oppress religious minorities in India.
• Fundamentalism, which is rigid and extreme thinking, is incompatible with fraternity. Fanatics cannot exhibit true brotherhood or solidarity.
• Caste and Fraternity - In India, the coexistence of caste and political fraternity is challenging. One must give way for the other to thrive, and the future of Indian politics will determine which one prevails.