SALUTE TO THE TRUE LOVE ! BY SUSAN MATHEW               

    -BY SUSAN MARIA MATHEW, A LEGAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE WITH THE OFFICE OF LILY THOMAS AND OFFICE

 SALUTE TO THE TRUE LOVE! A MARRIAGE IN KERALA ROOTED IN CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES : BY SUSAN MARIA MATHEW

          As we live at times when couples run amok in unending quest to set up one of a kind wedding grandeur, a couple from Kerala has set forth an example to the entire country by celebrating their unequivocal love for each other as well as their country by exchanging the living as well as ever evolving document, the Constitution of India. This unique expression by the couple, Abi R and Devika Devarajan, hailing from Kollam in Kerala, deserves much appreciation as they uphold the sacred ideals enshrined in our Constitution. The gesture, according to the couple, was their chosen way to celebrate love and promote awareness about the Constitution.

As we witness erosion of the sacred ideals that our Constitution-Makers gave us containing their aspirations for a free India, this extraordinary and notable act is a true expression of love and affection for the fellow citizens. The couple’s decision to depart from the traditional religious norms and instead uphold the Constitutional ideals of secularism, principles of justice, equality, unity, and fraternity professes the glory and sanctity of the Constitution of India.

This act is a reminder that the philosophy of secularism is based on love and affection to those left out in the political, economic, cultural, religious, linguistic and other realms of social existence.

Apart from exchanging copies of the Constitution, the couple who serve as instructors in the Constitution Literacy Campaign in Kollam, the first constitutionally literate district in India, has taken a step ahead by remembering the contribution of Dr. Ambedkar and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru by imprinting their images in the digital wedding cards and planning to distribute copies containing articles of constitution as a token of gratitude to the wedding guest.

 The impact of this simple gesture has far reaching relevance as it serves as a strong statement against the still prevailing practices of injustice, discrimination and hostility looming in our society as impediments towards realization of the constitutional goals and in perpetuating and disseminating the sanctity of the Constitutional principles for the recognition of the present and future generations. In the background of the strive for realization of Constitutional rights of same -sex couples this act is an eye – opener for the society towards the ultimate guiding principles of this country.

As we highlight the glory of the Constitution of India, we proudly remember our greatest inspiration and ladylove, Advocate Lily Thomas Ma’am, who devoted her entire life towards upholding the spirit of the Constitution and realizing the goals set forth by it as her sole pursuit in life. It can be said without hesitation that her entire life exemplifies the Constitutional principles of secularism, equality and fraternity as enshrined in the Preamble, based on the ideals of love, affection, and humanity, upon which this country has laid its foundation.

The inspiration and legacy set forth by Advocate Lily Thomas Ma’am is continued by Advocate Saju Jakob who believes in the ideals of the Constitution. His devotion to the Constitution ignites a relentless endeavor towards attaining justice for fellow compatriots. Advocate Jakob holds the Constitutional principles close to his heart, as did his role model and makes it his life’s mission to uphold the rule of law in every aspect of his life.

It is an essential duty as responsible citizens of a democratic country to utilize our capacity and capability with utmost diligence and honesty in order to achieve the goal of an egalitarian society. As a step towards a true democratic society, it is vital to promote an environment devoid of winners and losers and to promote a spirit of altruism between the ‘haves’ and ‘have –nots’.

In order to remind us of the goals that the founding fathers enjoined the polity to attain, “We, the People of India” shall encourage and recognize such acts of love and respect for the Constitution.  It is unalienable in the exercise of right and duties as citizens of this country and in the expression of gratitude and honor that we have been assigned upon by the Constitution.

As the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar go “The Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document, it is a vehicle of life and its spirit is always the spirit of age”, and it is upon us to uphold this spirit and glory of our country.”

Let the spirit of love, affection, fraternity, equality, and secularism be exercised in our daily life as mandated by the Indian Constitution.

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