Opinion: Sanatan Dharma, Bharat And The Indian Constitution

The Constitution of any nation embodies its collective values, aspirations, and provides a roadmap for achieving these goals. It also delineates the authority vested in the government and how it should be exercised to realise these values. In the case of India, its Constitution draws heavily from the rich tapestry of civilisational values cultivated over millennia, particularly those rooted in the Sanatan Dharma.

Sanatan Dharma represents the eternal, timeless and unchanging traditions that have evolved in the landmass of Bharat-Khanda (the Indian subcontinent). These traditions are so assimilated in this culture that, the culture that blossomed, flourished and evolved on this geographical entity came to be known as Sanatan Dharam. It is not a religion like Abrahimcal religion but a way of life. The basis of this Dharma is Hinduism, though other streams like Buddhism and Jainism also added their valuable contributions.

The fundamental values enshrined in the Indian Constitution include liberty, equality, fraternity, peaceful coexistence, democracy, and respect for nature and all living beings. These values have deep ties to Hindu culture, one of the world's oldest and most enduring civilisations. This article explores how Hinduism's core principles have significantly contributed to the foundational structure of the Indian Constitution.