Whatisconstitutionalmorality?

PRATAP BHA NU MEHTA

T H E p h ra se ‘ c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity ’ h a s, o f la te , b e g u n to b e w id e ly

u se d . Y e t th e p h ra s e ra r e ly c ro p s u p in d isc u ss io n s a ro u n d th e
C o n stitu e n t A ss e m b ly . O f th e th re e o r fo u r s c a tte r e d u s e s o f th e p h r a s e ,
o n ly o n e re fe re n c e h a s a n y in te lle c tu a l sig n ific a n c e . T h is is, o f c o u rs e ,
A m b e d k a r’ s fa m o u s in v o c a tio n o f th e p h ra s e in h is s p e e c h ‘ T h e D ra ft
C o n stitu tio n ’ , d e liv e r e d o n 4 N o v e m b e r 194 8 . In th e c o n te x t o f
d e fe n d in g th e d e c isio n to in c lu d e th e s tru c tu re o f th e a d m in istr a tio n in
th e C o n s titu tio n , h e q u o te s a t g re a t le n g th th e c la ss ic ist, G e o rg e G ro te .
T h e q u o ta tio n is w o rth re p ro d u c in g in fu ll:

T h e d iffu sio n o f ‘ c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity ’ , n o t m e re ly a m o n g th e

m a jo rity o f a n y c o m m u n ity , b u t th r o u g h o u t th e w h o le is th e
in d isp e n sa b le c o n d itio n o f a g o v e r n m e n t a t o n c e fre e a n d p e a c e a b le ;
s in c e e v e n a n y p o w e rfu l a n d o b stin a te m in o rity m a y re n d e r th e w o r k in g
o f a fre e in s titu tio n im p ra c tic a b le , w ith o u t b e in g stro n g e n o u g h to
c o n q u e r a s c e n d a n c e fo r th e m s e lv e s. 1

W h a t d id G r o te m e a n b y ‘ c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity ’ ? A m b e d k a r q u o te s

G ro te a g a in :

B y c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity , G ro te m e a n t… a p a ra m o u n t re v e re n c e fo r

th e o f th e c o n s titu tio n , e n fo rc in g o b e d ie n c e to a u th o rity
a nd , y e t c o m b in e d w ith th e h a b it
of , o f a c tio n s u b je c t o n ly to d e fin ite le g a l c o n tro l,
a nd o f th o se v e ry a u th o ritie s a s to a ll th e ir p u b lic
a c ts c o m b in e d , to o w ith a p e rfe c t c o n fid e n c e in th e b o so m o f e v e ry
c itiz e n a m id s t th e b itte rn e ss o f p a rty c o n te s t th a t
th e of in th e e y e s o f h is
o p p o n e n ts th a n h is o w n .
In G r o te ’ s re n d itio n , ‘ c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity ’ h a d a m e a n in g
d iff e re n t fro m tw o m e a n in g s c o m m o n ly a ttrib u te d to th e p h ra s e . In
c o n te m p o ra ry u sa g e , c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity h a s c o m e to re fe r to th e
s u b s ta n tiv e c o n te n t o f a c o n stitu tio n . T o b e g o v e rn e d b y a c o n stitu tio n a l
m o ra lity is , o n th is v ie w , to b e g o v e rn e d b y th e su b sta n tiv e m o ra l
e n ta ilm e n t a n y c o n s titu tio n c a rrie s . F o r in sta n c e , th e p rin c ip le o f
n o n -d is c rim in a tio n is o fte n ta k e n to b e a n e le m e n t o f o u r m o d e rn
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . In th is s e n se , c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity is th e
m o ra lity a c o n stitu tio n .

T h e r e w a s a s e c o n d u s a g e th a t A m b e d k a r w a s m o re fa m ilia r w ith fro m

its 19 th c e n tu ry p r o v e n a n c e . In th is v ie w , c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity re fe r s to
th e c o n v e n tio n s a n d p ro to c o ls th a t g o v e rn d e c is io n -m a k in g w h e re th e
c o n stitu tio n v e sts d is c re tio n a ry p o w e r o r is sile n t.

B u t G ro te ’ s u se o f th e te rm w a s d iff e re n t fro m th e se tw o u s e s , a n d
m o re im p o rta n t fo r A m b e d k a r’ s p u r p o s e s . A m b e d k a r w a s m a k in g a
s e rie s o f h is to ric a l c la im s a b o u t c o n stitu tio n a lis m . Lik e G r o te , h e h a d
little d o u b t th a t c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity w a s ra r e . It w a s n o t a ‘ n a tu ra l
s e n tim e n t’ . T h e p u rp o s e o f G ro te ’ s h a d b e e n , in
p a rt, to re sc u e A th e n ia n d e m o c ra c y fro m th e c o n d e s c e n s io n o f its e litist
c ritic s lik e P la to a n d T h u c y d id e s , a n d a rg u e th a t A th e n ia n d e m o c ra c y
h a d , e v e n if b r ie fly , a c h ie v e d e le m e n ts o f a g e n u in e c o n s titu tio n a l
m o ra lity .

F o r G ro te , th e re w e r e o n ly tw o o th e r p la u sib le in s ta n c e s o f a
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity h a v in g b e e n re m o te ly re a liz e d : th e a r isto c ra tic
c o m b in a tio n o f lib e rty a n d s e lf-r e s tra in t e x p e r ie n c e d in 16 8 8 in E n g la n d ,
a n d A m e r ic a n c o n stitu tio n a lis m . A ll o th e r a tte m p ts a t e n sh rin in g a
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity h a d g r ie v o u s ly fo u n d e re d . F o r A m b e d k a r, th is
n o te o f h isto r ic a l c a u tio n s im p ly a d d e d to h is w o rrie s a b o u t In d ia .
D e m o c ra c y in In d ia w a s o n ly , a s h e p u t it, ‘ to p d re ss in g o n In d ia n s o il,
w h ic h is e ss e n tia lly u n d e m o c ra tic .’ 2 O u r p e o p le h a v e ‘ y e t to le a rn ’
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity .
W h a t a re th e e le m e n ts o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity th a t A m b e d k a r is s o
c o n c e rn e d a b o u t? H is in v o c a tio n o f G ro te is m e a n t n o t a s a re fe re n c e
m e re ly to h isto ric a l ra rity , b u t a lso a s a p o in te r to th e d is tin c tiv e n e s s o f
c o n stitu tio n a lis m a s a m o d e o f a s so c ia tio n . In b o th th e 4 N o v e m b e r
194 8 sp e e c h a n d th e fin a l ‘ R e p ly to th e D e b a te ’ o n 2 5 N o v e m b e r
194 9, A m b e d k a r – a m id s t d is c u s sio n s o f a w h o le ra n g e o f su b sta n tiv e
iss u e s su c h a s fe d e ra lism , rig h ts, d e c e n tra liz a tio n , a n d p a rlia m e n ta ry
g o v e rn m e n t – re tu rn s to e le m e n ts o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity p re fig u re d
in h is u s e o f G ro te . F o r h im , th e r e a l a n xie ty w a s n o t ‘ C o n stitu tio n ’ th e
n o u n , a s m u c h a s th e a d v e r b ia l p ra c tic e it e n ta ile d .

F o r G ro te , th e c e n tr a l e le m e n ts o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity w e re fre e d o m

a n d se lf- re stra in t. S e lf- re stra in t w a s a p re c o n d itio n fo r m a in ta in in g
fre e d o m u n d e r p ro p e rly c o n s titu tio n a l g o v e rn m e n t. T h e m o s t p o litic a l
e xp r e s sio n o f a la c k o f s e lf- re s tra in t w a s re v o lu tio n . In d e e d
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity w a s su c c e s sfu l o n ly in s o fa r a s it w a rd e d o f f
re v o lu tio n . A m b e d k a r a lso ta k e s o n th e e x p lic itly a n ti- re v o lu tio n a r y to n e s
o f c o n s titu tio n a lism . In a str ik in g ly o d d p a ss a g e , h e s a y s th a t th e
m a in te n a n c e o f d e m o c ra c y re q u ire s th a t w e m u st ‘ h o ld fa st to
c o n stitu tio n a l m e th o d s o f a c h ie v in g o u r so c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic o b je c tiv e s.
It m u s t m e a n th a t w e a b a n d o n th e b lo o d y m e th o d s o f r e v o lu tio n . It
m e a n s w e m u st a b a n d o n th e m e th o d o f c iv il d iso b e d ie n c e ,
n o n -c o o p e r a tio n a n d sa ty a g ra h a .’ 3

In o n e str o k e , b o th v io le n t re v o lu tio n a n d p a s siv e re sis ta n c e a re e q u a te d

a s e xe m p lif y in g a k in d o f e xc e ss a n d la c k o f se lf- re str a in t in c o m p a tib le
w ith c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . T h e ta c it e q u iv a le n c e h e p o s its b e tw e e n
s a ty a g ra h a a n d v io le n c e h a s r o o ts in A m b e d k a r’ s e x p e r ie n c e o f
s a ty a g ra h a a s a fo rm o f c o e rc io n . It is a fe a tu re o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity
th a t w h ile g o v e r n m e n t is s u b je c t to th e fu ll fo rc e o f c ritic ism , th is
c ritic is m m u s t, in s o m e s e n s e , b e ‘ p a c ific ’ c ritic is m .

A m b e d k a r d ism is se s a n e n tire re p e rto ire o f p o litic a l a c tio n u se d d u rin g

th e n a tio n a list m o v e m e n t a s b e in g in c o m p a tib le w ith th e d e m a n d s o f
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity , a s h e u n d e rs to o d it. T h e se fo r m s o f p o litic a l
a c tio n c o n tin u e to b e se e n b y m a n y a s e ss e n tia l to d e m o c ra c y , th o u g h it
is d o u b tfu l th a t A m b e d k a r w o u ld h a v e a d m itte d th e m w ith in th e a m b it o f
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . B u t th e re is p e rh a p s a d e e p e r e le m e n t a t p la y in
h is ru lin g o u t s a ty a g r a h a a s in c o m p a tib le w ith th e b a sic s o f
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . A n d th is in p a rt sp rin g s fr o m h is u n d e rs ta n d in g o f
th e d istin c tiv e n e ss o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity .

F o r th e s e c o n d e le m e n t o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity is th e r e c o g n itio n o f

p lu ra lity in its d e e p e s t fo rm . W h a t is su rp ris in g is th a t A m b e d k a r tu rn s
o u t to b e a s, if n o t m o re , c o m m itte d to a fo rm o f n o n -v io le n c e a s
G a n d h i. F o r h im , re sp e c tin g c o n s titu tio n a l f o rm s is th e o n ly w a y in w h ic h
a g e n u in e ly n o n - v io le n t m o d e o f p o litic a l a c tio n c a n c o m e in to b e in g .
F o r th e c e n tra l c h a lle n g e in a p o litic a l so c ie ty is th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d
a d ju d ic a tio n o f d iffe re n c e s – th o u g h w h a t A m b e d k a r h a d in m in d w e re
m o re d iffe re n c e s o f o p in io n th a n o f id e n tity .

T h e o n ly w a y o f n o n -v io le n t re s o lu tio n a m id s t th is fa c t o f d iffe re n c e is
s e c u rin g so m e d e g re e o f u n a n im ity o n a c o n s titu tio n a l p ro c e ss , a fo r m
o f a d ju d ic a tio n th a t c a n m e d ia te d iffe re n c e . U n ila te ra lly d e c la r in g
o n e se lf to b e in p o ss e s sio n o f th e tru th , s e ttin g o n e se lf u p a s a ju d g e in
o n e ’ s o w n c a u se , o r a c tin g o n th e d ic ta te s o f o n e ’ s c o n s c ie n c e m ig h t
b e h e ro ic a c ts o f p e r so n a l in te g rity . B u t th e y d o n o t a d d r e s s th e c e n tra l
p ro b le m th a t a c o n stitu tio n a l fo rm is try in g to a d d re s s, n a m e ly th e
e xis te n c e o f a p lu ra lity o f a g e n ts , e a c h w ith h is/ h e r o w n c o n v ic tio n s ,
o p in io n s a n d c la im s.

Co n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity re q u ir e s su b m ittin g th e s e to th e a d ju d ic a tiv e

c o n triv a n c e s th a t a re c e n tr a l to a n y c o n s titu tio n – p a rlia m e n t, c o u rts
a n d so o n . In th e fa c e o f d iffe re n c e , th e o n ly p o in t o f u n a n im ity th a t o n e
c a n s e e k is o v e r a n a p p ro p r ia te ly d e s ig n e d a d ju d ic a tiv e p ro c e ss . T h is is
o n e re a s o n , fo r e x a m p le , w h y A m b e d k a r d o e s n o t th in k s o c ia lism
s h o u ld b e p a r t o f th e c o n stitu tio n , e v e n th o u g h e q u a lity is o f p a ra m o u n t
c o n c e rn to h im . W h a t th e p a rtie s h a v e to a g r e e to , a s A m b e d k a r
re c o g n iz e s o v e r a n d o v e r, is a n a lle g ia n c e to a c o n stitu tio n a l fo rm , n o t
a n a lle g ia n c e to a p a rtic u la r su b s ta n c e .
T h e r e fo re , c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity re q u ir e s th a t a lle g ia n c e to th e
c o n stitu tio n is n o n - tra n s a c tio n a l. T h e e ss e n c e o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity
is th a t a lle g ia n c e to th e c o n s titu tio n c a n n o t b e p re m is e d u p o n it le a d in g
to o u tc o m e s th a t a re a m irr o r im a g e o f a n y a g e n t’ s b e lie fs. A
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity re q u ire s p u ttin g u p w ith th e p o s sib ility th a t w h a t
e v e n tu a lly e m e r g e s fro m a p r o c e s s is v e ry d iffe re n t fro m w h a t c itiz e n s
h a d e n v isa g e d .

Th e th ird e le m e n t o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity is its su sp ic io n o f a n y c la im s

to s in g u la r ly a n d u n iq u e ly re p re se n t th e w ill o f th e p e o p le . T h is is m o st
d e e p ly m a n ife s t in A m b e d k a r’ s h o s tility to a n y p e rs o n ific a tio n o f
p o litic a l a u th o rity . In p a rt w h a t re n d e re d sa ty a g ra h a o m in o u s, fro m a
c o n stitu tio n a l p o in t o f v ie w , w a s n o t ju s t its u n c o m p ro m is in g c h a ra c te r; it
w a s a ls o th e fa c t th a t its a g e n ts sa w th e m s e lv e s a s p e rs o n if y in g th e
g o o d o f th e w h o le . A m b e d k a r is h u g e ly su sp ic io u s o f a n y fo rm o f h e ro
w o r sh ip – n o w a ra th e r iro n ic fe a r in a n a g e in w h ic h A m b e d k a r h im se lf
h a s b e e n d e ifie d . B u t th is su sp ic io n o f p e rso n ific a tio n w a s p a rt o f a
la rg e r s e n s ib ility th a t fo rm e d a c ru c ia l e le m e n t o f h is c o n s titu tio n a l
m o ra lity : h e w a s su sp ic io u s o f a n y c la im s to e m b o d y p o p u la r
s o v e r e ig n ty . T h is m a y b e a so m e w h a t s u rp ris in g c la im to a ttrib u te to
A m b e d k a r, a n d w ith h im o th e r a rc h ite c ts o f th e C o n stitu tio n . B u t th e
e v id e n c e o f th is is u n m is ta k a b le .

T h u s A m b e d k a r is v e ry re lu c ta n t to se e a n y b r a n c h o f g o v e rn m e n t,
w h e th e r it b e th e le g isla tu re o r th e c o u rts, o r e v e n th e C o n stitu e n t
A s se m b ly itse lf, a s b e in g a b le to c la im a u th o rita tiv e ly th a t it e m b o d ie s
p o p u la r so v e re ig n ty a n d c a n sp e a k in its n a m e . H e is o f te n su s p ic io u s o f
th e le g isla tu re ’ s c la im to d o s o (f o r in sta n c e , in h is a r g u m e n t fo r w h y
th e f o rm o f a d m in istra tio n sh o u ld n o t b e e n tru ste d to th e le g is la tu r e ) . H is
d e fe n c e o f a re la tiv e ly e a sy p r o c e ss o f a m e n d in g th e c o n s titu tio n r e s ts
o n a h a lfw a y c o m p ro m ise b e tw e e n , o n th e o n e h a n d , a ra d ic a l
J e ff e rs o n ia n is m th a t w o u ld su b je c t th e c o n s titu tio n to re n e g o tia tio n a t
e v e r y g e n e ra tio n a n d , o n th e o th e r, a rig id c o n s titu tio n th a t w o u ld d e e p ly
e n tr e n c h th e p r e s e n t g e n e r a tio n ’ s p re fe r e n c e s.
In s h o rt, a n y a p p e a l to p o p u la r so v e re ig n ty h a s to b e te m p e re d b y a
s e n se th a t th e fu tu re m a y h a v e a t le a st a s v a lid c la im s a s th e p re se n t.
In d e e d , it h a s to b e sa id o f th e C o n s titu e n t A ss e m b ly a s a w h o le , th a t
th e r e is v e r y little d e m a g o g u e ry in th e n a m e o f p o p u la r so v e re ig n ty .
A lm o st n e v e r is a c la im a d v a n c e d o r d e fe n d e d o n th e g r o u n d th a t it
s o m e h o w re p re s e n ts th e w ill o f th e p e o p le . O fte n th e d isc o u r se is m o re
c e n tre d o n th e re sp o n s ib ility to th e p e o p le . T h is is n o t s im p ly b e c a u se
th e C o n s titu e n t A s se m b ly w a s n o t e le c te d b y u n iv e rsa l su ffra g e ; n o r w a s
it s im p ly a p ro d u c t o f e litism try in g to k e e p p o p u la r s o v e re ig n ty a t b a y . It
w a s r a th e r b e c a u s e th e re w a s a d e e p e r g r a s p o f a p o litic a l tru th : a n y
c la im s to sp e a k o n b e h a lf o f p o p u la r s o v e r e ig n ty a re a tte m p ts to u su rp
its a u th o rity . N o c la im to re p re s e n t p o p u la r so v e re ig n ty th e re fo r e , sh o u ld
e v e r b e c o n s id e re d fu lly c o n v in c in g ; th e c h ie f p u r p o s e o f c o n stitu tio n a l
g o v e rn m e n t is to c h a lle n g e g o v e rn m e n ta l, o r a n y o th e r c la im s to
re p re se n t th e p e o p le .

O n e p ie c e o f e v id e n c e fo r th is is A m b e d k a r’ s d e fe n c e o f th e
p a rlia m e n ta ry fo rm o f g o v e rn m e n t b e c a u se it e m b o d ie s w h a t h e c a lls
th e p rin c ip le o f ‘ re s p o n sib ility ’ . B y th is h e m e a n s th a t th e e x e c u tiv e
w ill b e su b je c t to ‘ d a ily a s se ss m e n t’ . W h ile e le c tio n s w ill g iv e a n
o p p o rtu n ity fo r th e p e o p le to e n g a g e in w h a t h e c a lls ‘ p e rio d ic
a ss e s sm e n t’ , th e a rs e n a l o f p a rlia m e n ta ry d e m o c ra c y w ill fa c ilita te
d a ily a ss e ss m e n t in th e fo rm o f re so lu tio n s to n o c o n fid e n c e m o tio n s ,
d e b a te s to a d jo u rn m e n t m o tio n s , e tc . W h e th e r o r n o t h e w a s rig h t a b o u t
a p a rlia m e n ta ry sy s te m o f g o v e rn m e n t is d e b a ta b le , b u t it is d e e p ly
in te r e s tin g th a t h e se e s p a rlia m e n t’ s fu n c tio n a s q u e stio n in g a n y
c la im s th e g o v e rn m e n t m ig h t m a k e to e m b o d y p o p u la r o p in io n o r
s o v e r e ig n ty s im p ly o n a c c o u n t o f its m a jo rity .

Th e fu n c tio n o f p a rlia m e n t is n o t s o m u c h to p o p u la r
s o v e r e ig n ty a s it is to d e b a te a n d c o n s ta n tly q u e s tio n g o v e rn m e n t. B u t,
p a ra d o x ic a lly , th is is to p re v e n t g o v e r n m e n t f ro m c la im in g m o n o p o ly
o v e r p o p u la r w ill. T h e re is n o t a s in g le p la c e in th e d e b a te s w h e re th e
p ro ta g o n is ts r a is e th e fo llo w in g q u e stio n s : W h a t fo r m o f d e m o c ra c y w ill
b e st r e p re s e n t th e w ill o f th e p e o p le ? T h e p re d o m in a n t fo c u s is o n
m u ltip ly in g r a th e r th a n o n q u e s tio n in g c la im s to r e p r e s e n t th e p e o p le .
A lth o u g h s o m e o n e lik e N e h r u w a s o c c a sio n a lly im p a tie n t w ith
in stitu tio n s lik e th e c o u r t, th e su b s e q u e n t c o n te s t b e tw e e n th e ju d ic ia ry
a n d le g isla tu re c a n b e s e e n a s y e t a n o th e r e xe m p lific a tio n o f th e
C o n stitu tio n ’ s im p u lse th a t th e re sh o u ld b e n o sin g u la rly a u th o rita tiv e
a rb ite r o f e ith e r p o p u la r w ill, o r c o n stitu tio n a l in te rp re ta tio n .

It is a c o n c e rn f o r c ritic is m ra th e r th a n re p re s e n ta tio n o f p o p u la r w ill th a t

tie s A m b e d k a r m o st c lo s e ly to G ro te ’ s in v o c a tio n o f c o n stitu tio n a l
m o ra lity . A fte r a ll, th e b u r d e n o f G ro te ’ s g r e a t h isto r y o f A th e n ia n
d e m o c ra c y w a s to d e fu s e th e c ritic is m o f A th e n s th a t p o p u la r
s o v e r e ig n ty w a s a th re a t to fre e d o m a n d in d iv id u a lity . O n c e p o p u la r
s o v e r e ig n ty o r th e a u th o r ity o f th e p e o p le h a d b e e n in v o k e d , w h o e ls e
w o u ld h a v e a n y a u th o r ity to sp e a k ? G ro te d e fu s e d th is a n xie ty in a n o v e l
w a y.
T h e c la im b y a g o v e rn m e n t th a t it
re p re se n te d p o p u la r s o v e re ig n ty d id n o t, b y itse lf, h a v e a n y a u th o rity . Its
c la im s a n d d e c isio n s c o u ld s till b e in te rro g a te d , c e n s u re d a n d s u b je c t to
u n r e s tra in e d c ritic is m . In d e e d , w h a t A th e n ia n c o n stitu tio n a l p ra c tic e h a d
a c h ie v e d w a s p r e c is e ly th is: th e s p a c e fo r u n re s tra in e d c ritic is m th a t
w a s n e v e r th e le s s ‘ p a c ific a n d b lo o d le s s’ a n d n o t sile n c e d b y c la im in g
th e a u th o rity o f th e p e o p le .

Th is a c c o u n t o f c o n s titu tio n a l m o ra lity m a y s e e m to e m p h a s iz e th e

fo r m a l e le m e n ts : s e lf- re stra in t, r e s p e c t fo r p lu ra lity , d e f e re n c e to
p ro c e s se s , s c e p tic ism a b o u t a u th o rita tiv e c la im s to p o p u la r s o v e re ig n ty ,
a n d th e c o n c e rn fo r a n o p e n c u ltu re o f c ritic ism th a t re m a in s a t th e c o re
o f c o n s titu tio n a l fo rm s . T h e s e m a y se e m ra th e r c o m m o n p la c e , b u t
A m b e d k a r h a d little d o u b t th a t th e s u b je c tiv ity th a t e m b o d ie d th e s e
e le m e n ts w a s ra re a n d d iff ic u lt to a c h ie v e . A m b e d k a r g ra sp e d s in g u la r ly
th e c o re o f th e c o n s titu tio n a l re v o lu tio n : it w a s a n a ss o c ia tio n s u sta in e d
n o t b y a c o m m o n a lity o f e n d s, o r u n a n im ity o v e r su b s ta n tiv e o b je c tiv e s
( e x c e p t a t p e rh a p s a v e ry h ig h le v e l o f g e n e ra lity ) . It w a s ra th e r a fo rm o f
p o litic a l o rg a n iz a tio n s u sta in e d b y c e r ta in w a y s o f d o in g th in g s . It w a s
s u s ta in e d n o t so m u c h b y o b je c tiv e s a s b y th e c o n d itio n s th ro u g h w h ic h
th e y w e re re a liz e d . w a s th e c o re o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity .
A c o n s titu tio n th u s w a s n o t a re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c o n c re te p e rs o n s,
b u t ra th e r a re la tio n sh ip b e tw e e n a b s tra c t b o u n d to g e th e r b y
a b str a c t ru le s . It is p r e c is e ly th is a b stra c tio n , th is d is ta n c e fro m s p e c ific
p e rs o n s a n d w ish e d fo r s u b sta n tiv e o u tc o m e s th a t a llo w e d a
c o n stitu tio n a l c u ltu re to e m e rg e . A m b e d k a r w a s a p o w e rfu l a n d
tre n c h a n t c ritic o f c a s te . In th is c o n te xt, c a ste w a s a n im p e d im e n t to
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity in a v e ry sp e c ific w a y . It is th e fo r m o f so c ia l
e xis te n c e th a t p re v e n te d th e e m e r g e n c e o f th o s e a b s tra c t p e rso n a e so
c e n tra l to c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity . It is th e o n e p a rtic u la rity th a t c o n sta n tly
u n d e rm in e s th e f o rm a tio n o f th e s e lf, c e n tra l to c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity .
F o r c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity re q u ire s v a rio u s f o rm s o f d iss o c ia tio n : th e
a b ility to d iss o c ia te a p e rs o n fro m th e ir v ie w s ; th e a b ility to tru s t
s o m e o n e d e sp ite d e e p d isa g re e m e n t b a se d o n th e k n o w le d g e th a t
th e r e is a s h a re d a g re e m e n t o n p ro c e s se s to a d ju d ic a te th a t
d is a g re e m e n t. C a ste id e n tity , b y its v e ry c h a ra c te r , m a d e su c h
d is so c ia tio n im p o s sib le .

F o r A m b e d k a r, w ith o u t fra te rn ity , ‘ e q u a lity a n d lib e rty w o u ld b e n o

d e e p e r th a n c o a ts o f p a in t.’ 4 N o w h e re d o e s A m b e d k a r m a k e th e
a rg u m e n t th a t th e C o n stitu tio n is a b o u t d is trib u tio n o f p o w e r a m o n g
d iff e re n t c a ste s. C a s te e m b o d ie s a p r in c ip le o f so c ia l se p a ra tio n , a n d is,
to u se h is p h ra se , ‘ a n ti- n a tio n a l’ . 5 Its v e ry e xis te n c e p re c lu d e s a n
a b ility to a b s tra c t fr o m o n e ’ s id e n tity . It e n s u r e s th a t th e re la tio n sh ip
b e tw e e n g ro u p s is p e r p e tu a lly c o m p e titiv e . A c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity , b y
c o n tra st, re q u ire s b o th th e se fe a tu re s – a b s tra c tio n a n d a g re e m e n t o r
c o o p e r a tio n . It r e q u ire s th e p re su m p tio n th a t w e a re e q u a l. H o w e v e r,
th a t e q u a lity is p o s sib le o n ly w h e n fo r c o n s titu tio n a l p u r p o s e s o u r c a ste
id e n titie s d o n o t m a tte r . A c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity re q u ir e s th e s e n s e th a t
d e sp ite a ll d iffe re n c e s w e a re p a rt o f a c o m m o n d e lib e ra tiv e e n te rp ris e .

Bu t th e re a r e s till se v e ra l g o o d re a s o n s to u n p a c k th e re fe r e n c e s to
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . F irs t, w e s im p ly n e e d to c o m p lic a te o u r
u n d e rs ta n d in g o f h o w o u r fra m e rs u n d e rs to o d th e C o n stitu tio n .
F o r m a lis m o f a c e rta in k in d w a s c e n tr a l to th e ir im a g in a tio n o f th e
C o n stitu tio n a s a m o d e o f a ss o c ia tio n . S e c o n d , it is a strik in g fa c t th a t
w h ile A m b e d k a r re c o g n iz e d th e c o n tra d ic tio n s b e tw e e n th e a c tu a l
in ju s tic e a n d c o n s titu tio n a l a s p ira tio n s , h e d id n o t c o lla p s e th e
C o n stitu tio n in to a d o c trin e o f d is trib u tiv e ju s tic e . Im p lic it in h is
in v o c a tio n o f th e c o n tr a d ic tio n is a d u a l-tra c k c o n c e p tio n o f ju stic e .
T h e r e is c o n stitu tio n a l ju stic e , d e f in e d b y c e rta in rig h ts a n d p ro c e d u re s.
T h e r e is a lso su b sta n tiv e ju s tic e , e m b o d ie d in d e b a te s o v e r p riv a te
p ro p e r ty a n d th e riv a l c la im s o f so c ia lism v e rsu s c a p ita lism .

In a w a y th e c o n s titu tio n a l d isc o u rs e is c a u g h t b e tw e e n tw o im p u lse s .

O n th e o n e h a n d it w a n ts to sa y th a t w e c a n ris e a b o v e th e s e p a r tic u la r
d is a g re e m e n ts a n d p ro v id e a f ra m e w o rk w h e re b o th p a r tie s c a n
c o n te n d ; th e rig h ts o f th o se w h o b u ild b illio n d o lla r h o m e s c a n c o n te n d
w ith th e c la im s o f th o s e w h o d e m a n d m o re r a d ic a l fo rm s o f
re d istrib u tio n . O u r C o n stitu tio n h a s sp a c e fo r b o th so c ia lis ts a n d
c a p ita lis ts o r , to ta k e a n o th e r e x a m p le , th o s e w h o ra d ic a lly d is a g r e e
o v e r re se rv a tio n . C o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity is sim p ly th e c o n d itio n s o n e
s u b s c rib e s to in d e te rm in in g th e o u tc o m e , w h a te v e r th a t m ig h t b e .

O n th e o th e r h a n d , w e m ig h t fe e l th a t th e re is s o m e th in g u n s ta b le a b o u t
th e p o litic a l p sy c h o lo g y a ss o c ia te d w ith th is d iss o c ia tio n o f c o n s titu tio n a l
fro m d istrib u tiv e ju stic e . C a n c itiz e n s re a lly b e c o m m itte d to a
fra m e w o rk th a t a llo w s b o th g o a ls a t o n c e : th e rig h ts o f th e b illio n - d o lla r
h o m e o w n e r a n d a c o m m itm e n t to re d is trib u tio n ? In a lm o s t a ll h is
s p e e c h e s , A m b e d k a r h im se lf w re s tle s w ith th is te n s io n : C a n a
c o n stitu tio n s u r v iv e w ith o u t a sin g u la r c o n c e p tio n o f d is trib u tiv e ju s tic e
u n d e rly in g it?

In th e fin a l a n a ly sis , h e p itc h e s fo r c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity , a n a lle g ia n c e

to c o n s titu tio n a l fo rm s, ra th e r th a n c o lla p sin g th e d o m a in s o f
c o n stitu tio n a l a n d d istrib u tiv e ju stic e . H e d o e sn ’ t c h e a t b y g iv in g u s th e
( fa lse ) a ss u ra n c e th a t th e f o rm s o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity w ill p ro d u c e
d e e p su b s ta n tiv e e q u a lity ; n o r d o e s h e c h e a t b y s a y in g th a t s u b s ta n tiv e
e q u a lity sim p ly is th e sa m e th in g a s c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . N o s o c ie ty
h a s y e t a d e q u a te ly n e g o tia te d th e te n s io n b e tw e e n th e d o m a in o f
c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity a n d th e d o m a in o f su b sta n tiv e ju s tic e . H e w a n te d
a re v o lu tio n , b u t n e v e r b e c a m e a r e v o lu tio n a ry .
Th e fin a l r e a so n fo r fo c u sin g o n c o n s titu tio n a l m o r a lity is h isto ric a l.
W h a t w a s th e n a tu re o f th e C o n s titu e n t A s se m b ly ’ s a c h ie v e m e n t? It is
fa ir to s a y th a t it b e c a m e a su p r e m e e x e m p la r o f w h a t A m b e d k a r
d e fin e d a s c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . T h is is a se n sib ility th a t fe w a n a ly sts o f
th e C o n s titu tio n c a n re c o v e r. T h e y a re o fte n fix a te d o n tra n sa c tio n a l
v ie w s o f th e C o n stitu tio n , m e a su rin g it b y a y a rd s tic k o f ju s tic e e x te rn a l
to its p u rp o s e s . P e rh a p s th e fra m e o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity c a n d ire c t
o u r a tte n tio n to a c ru c ia l q u e stio n : W h a t k in d o f a p o litic a l s e n sib ility w a s
re q u ire d to m a k e a c o n s titu tio n p o s sib le ?

C o n stitu tio n s n o t o n ly a llo c a te a u th o rity , d e fin e th e lim its o f p o w e r o r

e n u n c ia te v a lu e s. T h e y a lso c o n s titu te o u r se n s e o f h isto r y a n d s h a p e a
s e n se o f s e lf. T h e y o fte n m a rk a n e w b e g in n in g a n d d e fin e fu tu re
h o riz o n s. D e sp ite th e c e n tra lity o f th e C o n stitu tio n to o u r so c ia l a n d
p o litic a l lif e , it h a s b e e n ill-s e r v e d b y o u r h is to ric a l im a g in a tio n . In a v e ry
m u n d a n e s e n s e , w ith a h a n d fu l o f e xc e p tio n s , th e re is n o s e rio u s o r
d e e p h is to rio g ra p h y a s so c ia te d w ith o u r C o n stitu tio n , o n e th a t c a n p u t it
in p ro p e r h isto ric a l a n d p h ilo so p h ic a l p e r sp e c tiv e .

Th e p ro m u lg a tio n o f In d ia ’ s C o n s titu tio n w a s m a d e p o ss ib le b y a

s e n sib ility th a t f e w c o n te m p o r a ry h is to ria n s c a n r e c o v e r. W h ile th e
C o n stitu tio n w a s a n e x tra o rd in a ry w o rk o f s y n th e sis , o u r h is to ric a l
im a g in a tio n is g iv e n to d iv is iv e n e ss . T h e re is n o m o re s trik in g e x a m p le o f
th is th a n th e w a y in w h ic h m e m b e rs o f th e C o n s titu e n t A s se m b ly h a v e
b e e n d iv id e d u p a n d a p p ro p r ia te d , ra th e r th a n s e e n in r e la tio n to e a c h
o th e r. A m b e d k a r , P a te l, N e h ru , P r a s a d a n d a h o st o f o th e r s a re n o w
ic o n s in p a rtis a n id e o lo g ic a l b a ttle s , a s if to d e sc rib e A m b e d k a r a s a D a lit,
o r P a te l a s p ro to -B J P , o r N e h ru a s a C o n g r e s sm a n e x h a u sts a ll th a t
n e e d s to b e sa id a b o u t th e m .

T h e g re a tn e ss o f e a c h o n e o f th e m c o n s ists n o t ju s t in th e d is tin c tiv e

p o in ts o f v ie w th e y b ro u g h t to g e th e r, b u t th e ir e x tra o rd in a r y a b ility to
w o r k to g e th e r d e sp ite s o m a n y d iff e re n c e s. C o n g re ss its e lf fa c ilita te d
th e e n try o f so m a n y p e o p le w ith a n a n ti- C o n g re ss p a st in to k e y r o le s in
th e A ss e m b ly . It ta k e s a w illfu l h isto r ic a l a m n e sia to fo r g e t th e fa c t th a t
th e m e n a n d w o m e n o f th e A ss e m b ly w o r k e d w ith a n e xtr a o rd in a ry
c o n sc io u s n e s s th a t th e y n e e d e d a n d c o m p le te d e a c h o th e r. T h e
h isto r io g ra p h y o f th e C o n s titu e n t A s se m b ly h a s n o t r e g a rd e d it a s a n
e xe m p la r o f c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity . It h a s ra th e r a ss e s se d it o n a m u c h
m o re id e o lo g ic a l y a rd stic k .

T h e a b ility to w o r k w ith d iff e re n c e w a s a u g m e n te d b y a n o th e r q u a lity

th a t is ra re r still: th e a b ility to a c k n o w le d g e tr u e v a lu e . T h is m a y b e
a ttrib u te d to th e sh e e r in te lle c tu a lism o f so m a n y o f th e m e m b e rs. T h e ir
c o lle c tiv e p h ilo s o p h ic a l d e p th , h isto ric a l k n o w le d g e , le g a l a n d fo r e n sic
a c u m e n a n d s h e e r c o m m a n d o v e r la n g u a g e is e n v ia b le . It e n s u r e d th a t
th e g ro u n d s o f d isc u ss io n re m a in e d in te lle c tu a l. A ls o re m a rk a b le w a s
th e ir a b ility to a c k n o w le d g e g re a tn e ss in o th e rs . It w a s th is q u a lity th a t
a llo w e d N e h ru a n d P a te l, d e s p ite d e e p d iffe re n c e s in o u tlo o k a n d
te m p e r a m e n t, to a c k n o w le d g e e a c h o th e r. T h e ir sta te sm a n s h ip w a s to
n o t le t th e ir d iffe re n c e s p ro d u c e a d e b ilita tin g p o la riz a tio n , o n e th a t
c o u ld h a v e w re c k e d In d ia . T h e y c o m b in e d lo y a lty a n d fra n k n e ss . E v e n
a s p a rtia l a b io g ra p h e r o f N e h r u a s S . G o p a l c o n c e d e d th a t w h a t
p re v e n te d th e ru p tu re w a s th e ir ‘ m u tu a l re g a r d a n d P a te l’ s sto ic
de ce ncy.’ 6

Th e th ird se n s ib ility so m a n y le a d e rs o f th e C o n s titu e n t A s se m b ly c a r rie d

w a s a c re a tiv e f o rm o f s e lf- d o u b t. T h e y w e re a ll fa r m o re se lf- c o n sc io u s
th a t th e y w e re ta k in g d e c isio n s u n d e r c o n d itio n s o f g re a t u n c e rta in ty .
W a s it th a t e a sy to k n o w w h a t th e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f a p a rtic u la r p o s itio n
w e re g o in g to b e ? T h e y a ls o u n d e rs to o d th e ir m u tu a l v u ln e ra b ilitie s.
N e h ru ’ s a n sw e r to P a te l’ s w o rr y th a t N e h ru w a s lo sin g c o n fid e n c e in
h im w a s th a t h e w a s lo sin g c o n fid e n c e in h im s e lf. A n d a n y o n e w h o h a s
re a d th e to r tu r e d la st p a g e s o f w ill u n d e rs ta n d
h o w m u c h N e h ru m e a n t it. M u c h o f th e c h e a p c o n d e s c e n s io n o f
p o s te rity h e a p e d u p o n th e s e f ig u r e s w o u ld v a n ish if w e c o u ld s h o w a s
m u c h s e lf- a w a re n e s s a n d a s e n s e o f v u ln e ra b ility a s o u r fo u n d in g
g e n e ra tio n d id . M a n y o f th e m m a d e m is ta k e s o f ju d g m e n t. B u t o n e h a s
th e c o n f id e n c e th a t th e y w e re m o re lik e ly to a c k n o w le d g e th e ir m ista k e s
th a n m o s t o f th o s e w h o c o m m e n t u p o n th e m . T h e y e m b o d ie d th e
c e n tra l e le m e n t o f a c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity : to tr e a t e a c h o th e r a s
c itiz e n s d e se rv in g e q u a l re g a r d , d e s p ite se rio u s d if fe r e n c e s.

Th e fo u rth se n s ib ility w h ic h w e h a v e lo s t s ig h t o f is th e im p o rta n c e o f

fo r m . W e a r e a ll in s tin c tiv e M a rx ists in th e se n se th a t w e th in k o f
in stitu tio n s, fo rm s a n d la w s a s s o m a n y c o n triv a n c e s to c o n s o lid a te
p o w e r. B u t th is w a s a g e n e ra tio n w ith a d e e p se n s e th a t fo r m s a n d
in stitu tio n s a re n o t m e r e ly in s tru m e n ta l fo r a n im m e d ia te g o a l; th e y a re
th e e n a b lin g fra m e w o rk th a t a llo w s a s o c ie ty th e p o s sib ilitie s o f
s e lf-r e n e w a l. F o rm s a lso a llo w tr u s t to b e b u ilt; th e y g iv e a s ig n a l th a t
p o w e r, e v e n w h e n it s e e k s to d o g o o d , is n o t b e in g e x e rc is e d in a w a y
th a t is a rb itra ry . T h is is e xa c tly w h y th e m e m b e rs to o k th e A ss e m b ly a n d
its d e lib e ra tio n s se rio u s ly .

T h e f ifth fe a tu re o f th e ir se n s ib ility is a se n s e o f ju d g m e n t. T h is is a v e ry
in ta n g ib le p o litic a l q u a lity . P a r t o f it is th e a b ility to d e lib e ra te in a w a y
th a t ta k e s o n b o a rd a ll th e r e le v a n t c o n sid e ra tio n s, a n d d o e s n o t m a k e
p o litic s h o s ta g e to a s in g le m iss io n . A n o th e r is th e a b ility to ju d g e o n e ’ s
o w n p o w e r a n d p la c e in re la tio n to o th e r s a n d th e p u b lic a t la r g e . T h is
g iv e s a b e tte r se n se o f w h e n to c o m p ro m is e a n d w h e n to p re ss a p o in t,
w h e n to c u rb o n e ’ s e g o a n d w h e n to p ro je c t p o w e r .

T h e C o n s titu tio n w a s m a d e p o ss ib le b y a c o n stitu tio n a l m o ra lity th a t w a s

lib e ra l a t its c o re . N o t lib e ra l in th e e v is c e r a te d id e o lo g ic a l s e n se , b u t in
th e d e e p e r v irtu e s fro m w h ic h it s p ra n g : a n a b ility to c o m b in e
in d iv id u a lity w ith m u tu a l re g a rd , in te lle c tu a lis m w ith a d e m o c ra tic
s e n sib ility , c o n v ic tio n w ith a s e n se o f f a llib ility , d e lib e ra tio n w ith d e c isio n ,
a m b itio n w ith a c o m m itm e n t to in s titu tio n s, a n d h o p e fo r a fu tu re w ith
d u e re g a rd fo r th e p a st a n d p re se n t.

Footnotes:

1. F o r e a s y a c c e s s to th e tw o A m b e d ka r s p e ec h e s refe rre d to in th is tex t, s e e th e s ele c tio n,

. L o k S a b h a S ec re ta ria t, D e lh i, 199 0 , p p .
10 7 - 13 1 a n d p p . 17 1- 18 3 .
T h e q uo ta tio n fro m G ro te th a t A m b ed k a r us e s c a n b e fo u n d in a reis s ue o f G eo rg e G ro te ,
. R o utle d g e , L o n d o n, 2 0 0 0 , p . 93 .

2 . A m b ed k a r, ‘ S p e ec h D elive red o n 2 5 N o ve m b e r 194 9 ’ in

, p . 17 4 .

3 . Ib id ., p . 17 4 .

4 . Ib id ., p . 18 1.

5 . Ib id ., p . 18 1.

6 . S . G o p a l, . V o l II. H a rv a rd U n iv ers ity P res s , C a m b rid g e , p . 3 0 8 .

(Source: https://www.india-seminar.com/2010/615/615_pratap_bhanu_mehta.htm)