बगुला भगत
On a cold winter morning in 2009, I stood with my fellow Air Force officers in a hollow square. We were told that the purpose of assembling is to solemnly swear an oath to protect the Constitution of India. We had joined the armed forces out of an unwavering love for our motherland, vowing to safeguard the nation with our lives. Yet, as the words of announcement echoed, a thought stirred within me that the Constitution is dynamic, a set of rules subject to change, but an oath should be timeless, rooted in eternal, unchanging values. An oath, I mused, should be timeless and free of conditions. Moreover, in a secular nation, the word ‘Oath’ feels hollow without the divine witness of God Almighty, the ultimate reason for our existence, rendering the ritual devoid of sacred connection. My heart, bound by honour as a protector of the nation, yearned for a deeper, more meaningful cause, one that resonated with the eternal truths of Dharma.
Time marched forward, and by 2010, my interests shifted to new horizons. While exploring emerging technology, I discovered e-readers, and the first book I opened was Plato’s Republic. I skimmed through it casually, its ideas on justice and governance lingering in my mind. By 2012, a profound curiosity about existential truth gripped me, setting me on a path of introspection. After retiring from the Indian Air Force, this quest intensified, evolving into an unstoppable urge to express my understanding. As I delved into the subtle realms of logic, extrasensory perception, and spirituality, a moment of divine clarity arrived in the form of a blessing that illuminated my exploration of religions, philosophy, and science. This enlightenment fueled my work on ‘A Logic of Every Being’, a book that crystallised my thoughts on existence. Yet, as I neared its completion, a troubling realisation emerged that the Indian Constitution is heavily influenced by European philosophy. It felt disconnected from India’s philosophy and wisdom. It seemed that some vested interests were intent on keeping Bharat shackled to these incoherent, imported ideals that clashed with our cultural ethos, alienating the people from their own governance.
Reflecting on Plato’s Republic once more, I saw with stark clarity that India, despite its label, was not truly a republic. In the philosophical sense, it meant a state where justice (Dharma) and the greater good reign supreme. Many governments around the world and political parties use the term ‘Republic’, without any intent or meaning attached to it.
India is historically a land of open philosophical debate where ideas were never imposed. An awakening is stirring across the nation, with people beginning to question these foundations, seeking a governance model that reflects their heritage. The current Constitution, I concluded, failed to embody Indian philosophy, its Dharma and culture, values that prioritise harmony, duty, and the eternal over transient political agendas. This disconnect explained why so many felt estranged from the document that is meant to unite them.
I felt a need to critique these philosophical missteps and propose a solution, a new constitutional framework rooted in Dharma. This proposed constitution, while inherently secular and inclusive, would honour India’s pluralistic traditions, promote peaceful coexistence, and keep national interest at the forefront. Drawing from the Dharmasutras, which emphasise justice as a universal principle and the Bhagavad Gita’s call for selfless duty, my vision integrates timeless values with modern governance. This Dharmic constitution would not only foster harmony and equity but also reconnect the people to their governance, ensuring that India’s spirit, sovereign, just, and eternal, thrives in a world of fleeting ideals.
