New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) On the occasion of Constitution Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged citizens to put their duties foremost as India moves toward the vision of a Viksit Bharat, calling on them to strengthen democracy by actively exercising their right to vote.
In a letter addressed to the nation on the Constitution Day, observed on 26 November, the Prime Minister reflected on the historic adoption of the Constitution in 1949 and its continued role in shaping India's development. He recalled that the Government declared 26 November as Constitution Day in 2015 to honour this "sacred document".
Modi underlined how the Constitution has empowered people from the most modest backgrounds to rise to positions of national service, noting his own sense of reverence for Parliament and the constitutional framework.
PM Modi revisited symbolic moments from his public life, including bowing at the steps of Parliament in 2014 and placing the Constitution on his forehead in 2019, gestures he said represent deep respect for the institutions that have enabled millions of Indians to dream and achieve.
Paying tribute to the members of the Constituent Assembly, the Prime Minister remembered Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. B R Ambedkar, and several pioneering women members whose ideas enriched the nation's founding charter.
He also recalled key milestones such as Gujarat's Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra during the Constitution's Diamond Jubilee, as well as the special session of Parliament and large-scale public programmes held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution.
PM Modi noted that this year's Constitution Day holds particular significance as it coincides with the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, and the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. These legacies, he said, reaffirm the Constitution's emphasis on fundamental duties under Article 51A.
Citing Mahatma Gandhi, he observed that rights naturally flow from the performance of duties, and that fulfilling duties forms the bedrock of social and economic progress.
Turning to the future, the Prime Minister pointed that 25 years have already passed since the beginning of the 21st century, and in just over two decades India will mark 100 years of freedom from colonial rule. In 2049, it will be a century since the Constitution was adopted. . The choices made today, he said, will shape generations to come, making it essential for citizens to keep their duties foremost in their minds as India moves towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister stressed the responsibility of strengthening democracy by exercising the right to vote, and suggested that schools and colleges celebrate Constitution Day by honouring first-time voters turning 18. He expressed confidence that inspiring youth with responsibility and pride will strengthen democratic values and the nation's future.
Reiterating the responsibility of strengthening democratic institutions, Modi encouraged all eligible citizens to vote and suggested that schools and colleges use Constitution Day as an opportunity to celebrate first-time voters. Instilling pride and responsibility in the youth, he said, will reinforce India's democratic ethos. The Prime Minister urged citizens to renew their commitment to fulfilling their duties and to contribute actively to building a developed, empowered, and resilient India.
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