INHERITED WISDOM: UNVEILING THE DEEP-ROOTED ORIGINS OF INDIAN DEMOCRACY
Abstract
This article delves into the historical foundation of democracy in India, challenging the notion that democratic and other constitutional principles were foreign elements introduced in Indian legal system. Examining pre-constitutional periods, the article endeavors to link the ancient principles with the constitution in order to establish that foundation of India’s constitution is deeply rooted in its civilization past. The objective of this article is to establish links between traditional values and the current constitution, demonstrating how India's rich cultural legacy forms the foundation of the country's constitutional structure. The objective of this article is to establish links between traditional values and the current constitution, demonstrating how India's rich cultural legacy forms the foundation of the country's constitutional structure. It challenges the narrative of democratic transplantation by examining the socio-political dynamics of ancient Indian communities in an effort to find evidence of democratic principles ingrained in indigenous governance systems. By means of this investigation, the paper aims to highlight the native foundations of democratic principles in India, clarifying how they have developed and persisted over centuries, ultimately finding articulation in the country's modern constitution. By doing this, it hopes to both commemorate the long-lasting influence of Indian civilizational ethos on the development of the nation's contemporary governance systems and shed light on the historical trajectory of Indian democracy
References
Rajput AS. Navigating the Legal Waters of Cohabitation: A Socio-Legal Review of Live-in Relationships. Issue 1 Indian JL & Legal Rsch.. 2023;5:1.
J.P. SHARMA, REPUBLICS IN ANCIENT INDIA,72 (Leiden E.J. Brill 1968).
Sen R. India’s South Asia Dilemma and Regional Cooperation: Relevance of Cultural Diplomacy. Strategic Analysis. 2014 Jan 2;38(1):68-78.
MAJUMDAR, R.C., RAYCHAUDHURI, H.C., DATTA, K., AN ADVANCED HISTORY OF INDIA. NEW DELHI, (Macmillan India Ltd, 1986)
Shalini. Judicial Activism vis-a-vis Judicial Overreach: A Critical Note in the Light of Doctrine of Separation of Powers. Issue 1 Indian JL & Legal Rsch.. 2023;5:1.
Trautmann TR. Does India Have History? Does History Have India?. Comparative Studies in Society and History. 2012 Jan;54(1):174-205.
Benke T. The Śūdrācāraśiromani of Krsna Śesa: A 16 th century manual of dharma for Śūdras (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pennsylvania).
Dhavan SS. The Indian judicial system: a historical survey. High Court of Judicature at Allahabad Commemoration. 2022;1.
Shamshastri R. Forms of Government in Ancient India. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. 1930 Jan 1;12(1):1-24.
Cleary RE. What do public administration masters programs look like? Do they do what is needed?. Public Administration Review. 1990 Nov 1;50(6).
Martel G, editor. The Encyclopedia of War, 5 Volume Set. John Wiley & Sons; 2012 Jan 17.
Ready, S. Sundara Rami. “FUNDAMENTALNESS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION.” Journal of the Indian Law Institute, vol. 22, no. 3, 1980, pp. 399–407. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43950702. (last visited 26 Nov. 2023).
Begum D, Begum MF. Sarve Bhag Vabet!(Let Everyone Be Happy): The Ancient Indian Perspective about Human Rights. Available at SSRN 3912017. 2021 Aug 26.
Ready, S. Sundara Rami. “FUNDAMENTALNESS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION.” Journal of the Indian Law Institute, vol. 22, no. 3, 1980, pp. 399–407. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43950702. Accessed 26 Nov. 2023.
Nehru, Jawaharlal. Nehru on Constitution, THE HINDU, November 19, 1946.
