Deewanshi Agrawal, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (Dehradun)
ABSTRACT
Begin with Duties of a man and rights will follow as spring follows winter1 I learned from my illiterate but wise mother that all rights to be deserved and preserved come from duty well done. Thus, the very right to live accrues to us only when we do the duty of citizenship of the world2. Fundamental Duties are the Righteous obligation of all the citizens to assist foster a spirit of patriotism and to sustain the unity of India. These are the statutory duties that are not enforced by the law. Fundamental duties were added to the Indian constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 19763. Article 51A of the Indian constitution talks about the fundamental duties of the citizens of India. Every day we witness communal riots and see people disrespecting the national flag. People are aware of the Indian constitution but they are not aware of its most important chapter that is the Fundamental duties. Fundamental duties help in the promotion of a sense of commitment and responsibility towards the nation. Rather than just being mere spectators fundamental duties make us realize the national goal by the active participation of the citizens. This paper primarily focuses on Fundamental duties as a forgotten chapter of the Indian constitution majorly focusing on the importance of the duties and yet why it had been ignored in addition to some landmark judgments by the supreme court and the riots and the movement aided by the youth of the nation.
Keywords: Fundamental Duties, Righteous obligation, Patriotism, Statutory Duties, Constitution, Communal riots, Youth.
