The Hindu : Teachers should help uphold Constitution, says Nariman

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Teachers should help uphold Constitution, says Nariman

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, MARCH 28. The Rajya Sabha member, Fali S. Nariman, on Sunday vested teachers with the responsibility of helping uphold the Constitution in the country.

Addressing the faculty of Andhra University, he advised teachers not to run away with the idea that the Constitution was not good and to teach young people not to denigrate it.

In an address laced with wit, he said "some wise men were able to draft a Constitution for the country'' but the Parliament today could never undertake the exercise.

"Every two Indians have three opinions and we cannot have another Constitution for 100 years,'' he remarked.

Acknowledging the role played by the judiciary in upholding the Consitutional provisions, he said, "We have to make the Constitution work. We have a bright future ahead.''

Mr. Nariman said he was not in the favour of `brute Parliamentary majority' as it could mangle the Constitution for remaining in power eternally and that governance through consensus provided for a far better experience.

He said the Constitution had its own ethos and guided the destiny of the country. Citing the experience of how his keynote address for a meeting in Singapore was sought to be whetted by the local police there before it was delivered, he said, "We don't realise what kind of liberty we have in our country just as you don't realise the want of oxygen until its pulled off,'' he said.

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