Politics

Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 1

American Democracy in the New Century

Written by Gaurav Bhola, MSM, Managing Editor & Community Manager on September 4, 2007 5:03 pm EST

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A democratic society cannot function without guaranteeing fundamental rights of its citizens and its citizens cannot function democratically without discharging their fundamental duties in society. The American nationhood has been built upon the democratic temper. The US Constitution and the accompanying Bill of Rights have withstood the test of time; both serve as role models to the world.

Somehow we place disproportionate emphasis on our rights against our duties as citizens. For it is, rights and duties are the two sides of the same coin. Our inalienable rights are inherent and fundamental; the constitution simply safeguards and guarantees them. As rights are inalienable so are duties, for every right there is a reciprocal duty. The duty of a person is an inalienable part of his/her right.

A right emanates from a duty discharged well. The duty of one person is the right of another person, as is respect for a person’s liberty and not to impose constraints upon it. Government safeguarding of rights become a nonentity; if everyone performs his/her duty, everyone’s rights would be automatically safeguarded.

Mahatma Gandhi stated eloquently the responsibilities of all citizens:

“The true source of right is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek. If leaving duties unperformed we run after rights, they will escape us like will-o-the-wist, the more we pursue them, the farther they will fly.”

“I learned from my illiterate but wise mother that all rights to be deserved and preserved come from my duty well done. Thus the very right to live accrues to us when we do the duty of citizenship of the world. From this one fundamental statement, perhaps it is easy enough to define duties of man and women and correlate every right to some corresponding duty to be first performed. Every other right can be shown to be a usurpation hardly worth fighting for.”

So far, in my readings I have yet to come across so comprehensive yet so concise an elocution of duty of a citizen than Article 51A of the Constitution of India.

“It shall be the duty of every citizen of India“

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.”

Herein, the above duties are fundamental to the well-oiled functioning of society, continually endeavoring towards self-improvement. The duties of every Indian citizen are laid threadbare in their constitution, these citizenship values are not mere repository of Indians alone.

The civic and personal duties of Indians transcend the physical boundaries of India, they belong to all mankind. A nation may need only to replace the word “India” with their own to engender within their citizens the importance of duty. Let us see an example:

“It shall be the duty of every citizen of the United States of America“

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the United States of America;
(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of the United States of America transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.”

Democracy Now Part 2: Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 2

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11 Responses to “Democracy Now: Fundamental Duties of a Citizen - Part 1”

Jenn Says:
September 6th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I totoally agree. I think people like being Americans but when it comes to civic duty they have something else better to do.
Windyridge Says:
September 6th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Yes that or just too stupid
emzkie Says:
September 6th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
well..thats a lot of hardwork specially this days. lol. only few abide the rules and make their own rules instead
lotis Says:
September 6th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
great “review” of every citizen’s duty to his country; people needs reminding “some”times, they tend to enjoy the rights, but forget the duties..
Alex Says:
September 13th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I certainly think many Americans shirk the responsibility of public service, but one has to think why and maybe one reason is the lack of stimulation that our public leaders exert from US citizens as well as the lack of confidence Americans have in their government for some very good reasons
nikhil Says:
January 4th, 2008 at 7:06 am
it is nice
ash Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 10:03 am
hey! this is really nice…i’m an Indian….
Henry Halff Says:
September 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Two thoughts.

1. The list presented here seems to conflate duties and obligations. For example, it is our obligation as citizens to respect the rights of others. It is our duty to defend the nation.

2. More significant is the failure to recognize that we are a democracy. As such we have the duties to stay informed about issues of national interest and to participate in the democratic process by voting and by making our voices heard.

In harsher terms, this article reads like one of a people under submission to authority, not like one of a people under control of their own destiny.
Gaurav Bhola Says:
September 9th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Duty of a citizen does entail staying a well-informed citizen and participating in the electoral process.

Please elaborate on the parallel between duty and obligation, as mere conflations.

Additionally, as a citizen if you “…cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom” then aren’t you cherishing the ideals so eloquently stated by Lincoln in his Gettysburg speech “…government of the people, by the people, for the people…” By that right you respect the ideals of national institutions and what they represent but have the right to dissent and replace malfunctioning institutions that no longer adhere to the ideals that promoted our national struggle for independence.

Herein, the article is completely in alignment with the ideals of our constitutional republic. I disagree with your conclusion.
Anonymous Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
hi
John Says:
October 26th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Interest in this topic may be increasing since the AL national speech contest this year is on “the duties and obligations of a citizen”.

I would amplify (d) “defend the country” to include not only physical external threats, but also internal and ideological threats. For example, the duties of a citizen must include the repression and prosecution of any subversive movements within the country, such as those who encourage people not to vote, or not to pay taxes. Likewise the citizen has a duty to rebel against, using physical force if necessary (see Amendment 2) the government if it ever infringes upon the rights of the individual as defined by the constitution.