The book deals with the making and unfolding of the Constitution of India, framed by the Constituent Assembly between 1946 and 1949. Superseding the conventional legalistic approach, it focuses on the politico-ideological priorities of the members of Assembly who played a critical role in preparing the provisions of the Constitution.
With its appeal cutting across academic specializations, this book stands out as a significant document by making readers aware of their constitutional rights and duties, and the ways to utilize the constitutional directions for human and national betterment. Written in lucid language, this book is a great asset for those seeking to understand the complex ideas implicit in legally articulated provisions.
Tailored to the academic requirements of a global readership, this volume would be useful to students, researchers and teachers working in the fields of Politics, Law, Public Administration and Public Policy. It would also be an invaluable resource for legal experts and policy makers.
PART A: CONSTITUTIONALIZING INDIA Introduction: Design of governance: Indian Constitution and its functioning 1. Major initiatives by the colonial government 2. The nationalist or indigenous inputs towards constitutionalizing India 3. Judiciary being a significant actor in constitutionalizing and democratizing India PART B: THE 1950 CONSTITUTION Section A: Foundational Values 4. Introducing the Constitution of India 5. Historical roots of the Constitution of India 6. Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV of the Constitution of India) 7. Constitutional Democracy in India 8. Salient Features of the 1950 Constitution of India 9. Ethics and constitutional governance in India 10. The doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution of India Section B: Articulating a vision 11. Citizenship in India 12. Language and nation-building: constitutional inputs 13. Constitutionalizing reservation in India 14. Gender as critical to the processes of constitutionalization 15. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25 – 28) 16. Secularism in India 17. Federalism in India: redefining the constitutional template for governance 18. Emergency Provisions – Part XVIII (Articles 352-360) Section C: Instruments for constitutionalizing India 19. Article 370 of the Constitution of India 20. Election Commission of India 21. Judiciary in India 22. Amending procedures 23. Comptroller and Auditor General of India 24. Governor: a constitutional functionary with political aims or a political functionary with constitutional goals (?) 25. Local Governance in India PART C: FUNCTIONING OF THE CONSTITUTION 26. Judiciary and Constitutional Democracy in India 27. Constitutionalization and democracy in India 28. Rootedness of Democracy in India 29. Constitutionalizing designs against gender discrimination Conclusion Bibliography
Biography
Bidyut Chakrabarty, a former professor of Political Science, University of Delhi (1998–2018), retired as a Vice chancellor of Visva-Bharati, a university which was founded by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Besides these appointments, he also taught in many universities across the world as a visiting professor. An expert on nationalist thought, Professor Chakrabarty has also contributed to the field of political science in general.
