Swaran Singh Committee

The Swaran Singh Committee: The Think Tank Behind Our Fundamental Duties

Hey everyone! Ever wondered how our Constitution got a special list of things we, as citizens, should do? It wasn't always there! The story behind it involves a group of smart people, led by a man named Sardar Swaran Singh. Let's dive into who this committee was and why their work matters to every Indian.

Imagine a time when India was going through a lot of changes. It was the mid-1970s, and the government felt that while our Constitution gave us many rights, there wasn't enough focus on what we, as citizens, should contribute back to the nation. They thought, "It's great to have rights, but what about our responsibilities?"

To think deeply about this, the government set up a special group called the Swaran Singh Committee in 1976. This committee was headed by Sardar Swaran Singh, a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress party. He was known for his sharp thinking and understanding of the Constitution.

What was the job of this committee?

The main job of the Swaran Singh Committee was to take a good look at our Constitution and suggest if any changes were needed. Specifically, they were asked to think about whether we should add a list of Fundamental Duties – things that every citizen of India should be expected to do.

Think of it like this: if you have a game with rules about what you can do (your rights), it's also helpful to have some guidelines about what you should do to make the game fair and enjoyable for everyone (your duties). The Swaran Singh Committee was tasked with figuring out these "should-dos" for Indian citizens.

What did the committee recommend?

After a lot of discussion and thinking, the Swaran Singh Committee came up with some important suggestions. They strongly recommended that a separate chapter on Fundamental Duties should be added to our Constitution. They felt this would remind everyone that rights and responsibilities go hand-in-hand.

The committee suggested a list of eight fundamental duties. These included things like:

• Respecting the Constitution and the law.
• Being loyal to the nation.
• Defending the country when needed.
• Promoting harmony and brotherhood among all Indians.
• Not doing anything that would harm the country's unity.
• Protecting public property.
• Paying taxes. (Interestingly, this was recommended but not included in the Constitution!)
• Not doing anything that goes against the dignity of women.

The committee even went a step further. They suggested that if people didn't follow these duties, Parliament should have the power to set penalties or punishments. They also thought that these penalties shouldn't be challenged in court. However, this particular suggestion about penalties was not accepted by the government when the duties were actually added to the Constitution.

What happened to their recommendations?

The government of the time largely agreed with the Swaran Singh Committee's ideas. Based on their recommendations, a big change was made to our Constitution through the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976. This amendment added a new part to the Constitution called Part IVA, and this part contained a single article: Article 51A.

This Article 51A listed ten Fundamental Duties, which were quite similar to what the Swaran Singh Committee had suggested, though not exactly the same and without the proposed penalties. Later, in 2002, one more duty related to education was added, bringing the total to eleven.

Why was this committee important?

The Swaran Singh Committee played a crucial role in shaping how we think about citizenship in India. By recommending the inclusion of Fundamental Duties, they:

• Brought focus to our responsibilities: Before this, the Constitution mainly talked about our rights. The committee highlighted that being a good citizen also means having duties.
• Strengthened the idea of a complete citizen: They emphasized that rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. You can't fully enjoy your rights without also being mindful of your responsibilities towards the nation and your fellow citizens.
• Influenced our Constitution: Their main recommendation led directly to the addition of Article 51A, which is a significant part of our Constitution today.

So, the next time you hear about the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution, remember the Swaran Singh Committee. They were the group of thinkers who first proposed these important guidelines for us, the citizens of India, reminding us that with rights come responsibilities in building a strong and harmonious nation. They left a lasting mark on how we understand our role in our country.