Q.Why is 'Objectives Resolution' of Jawaharlal Nehru considered as a momentous resolution ? Give any two reasons.

Jawaharlal Nehru's Objectives Resolution, moved in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946, is considered momentous for several reasons, as it laid down the foundational philosophy and guiding principles for the future Constitution of independent India.

Two key reasons it was momentous are:

• It unequivocally declared India an "Independent Sovereign Republic," thereby articulating the vision for a new nation free from colonial rule and establishing the fundamental nature of its governance.
• It guaranteed fundamental rights to all citizens, including justice, equality, and freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association, and action, while also ensuring adequate safeguards for minorities and backward classes. This commitment to democratic values and social justice formed the bedrock of the future Constitution.

After India gained independence in 1947, the monumental task of drafting a Constitution for the newly sovereign nation fell upon the Constituent Assembly. This Assembly, comprising representatives from various regions and communities, was not merely a legislative body but a deliberative forum tasked with defining the very soul of independent India. It was in this crucial context that Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, introduced the 'Objectives Resolution' on December 13, 1946. This resolution was not a draft of the Constitution itself, but rather a profound statement of the ideals and aspirations that would guide the Constitution-making process.

The Objectives Resolution articulated the vision for India as an independent, sovereign republic. It declared the firm and solemn resolve of the Constituent Assembly to proclaim India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and to draw up a Constitution for her future governance. It outlined the fundamental principles that would underpin the new nation: justice, social, economic and political; equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law; freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality. It also pledged adequate safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and other backward classes. Furthermore, it affirmed that the ancient land would attain its rightful and honoured place in the world and make its full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace and the welfare of mankind.

The Objectives Resolution is considered a momentous resolution for several compelling reasons:

1. It laid down the foundational philosophy and aspirations for independent India. Before the detailed articles and clauses of the Constitution could be debated, there was a need for a clear statement of purpose, a moral compass for the nation. Nehru's resolution provided this by articulating the core values and goals that India, as a newly independent nation, would strive to achieve. It was a declaration that India would not merely be a political entity but a republic founded on principles of democracy, justice, equality, and liberty, committed to the welfare of all its citizens, especially the vulnerable. This vision was crucial in uniting diverse groups within the Constituent Assembly and providing a shared understanding of the nation's future direction.

   Important

   The Objectives Resolution served as the philosophical bedrock, defining the kind of nation India aspired to be, even before the specific legal framework was established.

2. It served as the blueprint and guiding principle for the drafting of the Constitution. The ideals enshrined in the Objectives Resolution were not abstract statements; they directly influenced the structure and content of the Indian Constitution. The resolution acted as a framework, ensuring that every part of the Constitution, from fundamental rights to directive principles of state policy, was aligned with these overarching goals. Most notably, the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, which is often described as the "soul" of the Constitution, is a direct reflection and refined version of the Objectives Resolution. The Preamble encapsulates the essence of the resolution, reiterating the commitment to justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, and declaring India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. Thus, the resolution provided the essential direction and spirit that permeated the entire constitutional document.

   Note

   The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is a direct descendant of the Objectives Resolution, embodying its core principles and vision.