Justice Rohinton Nariman emphasizes that being informed about other faiths is the only way forward for Indians, urging fraternity, harmony, and constitutional values to strengthen India’s future.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has underlined the importance of constitutional values, religious understanding, and fraternity in India’s path forward. Speaking at his alma mater, Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai, Justice Nariman stressed that Indians must inform themselves of each other’s religious faiths if the country is to forge a peaceful and harmonious future.
ALSO READ: Delhi High Court suspends trial judge Sanjeev Kumar Singh, disciplinary action underway
Justice Nariman shared that this conclusion emerged while writing his latest book, An Ode to Fraternity, an exploration of world religions. He explained:
“The conclusion was to get from each faith so that one can live one’s life in conformity with what is best… Being informed about other faiths is according to me the only way in which the Indian citizen can step forward in peace and harmony. This is in fact in our Constitution and constitutional values which are contained largely in its great preamble.”
According to him, all religions, despite their metaphysical differences, converge on an ethical line: ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’
Justice Nariman reminded the audience that the Preamble of the Constitution begins with “We, the people of India”, a declaration of diversity and unity. He noted that India has given itself the values of being a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, and each of these words carries deep meaning for the nation.
He also emphasized that political justice was achieved with universal adult franchise at the stroke of midnight in 1950, but social and economic justice remain distant goals.
Out of liberty, equality, and fraternity, Justice Nariman called fraternity the most cardinal virtue of all.
“And finally we come to the greatest cardinal virtue of all without which liberty and equality will not exist, which is fraternity. And fraternity assures two things. One, the dignity of the individual… And second, the unity and integrity of the country.”
He urged students to internalize fraternity as both a personal ethic and a national duty.
Recounting his school days, Justice Nariman said his class was a microcosm of India, with students belonging to different communities, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Anglo-Indians. He fondly remembered:
“Nobody ever thought of a fellow student as either an Anglo-Indian, a Jew or a Hindu… In fact, some of my best friends were from all communities. And as I told you, it reflects this great country.”
This, he said, was a living example of the Constitutional ideal of fraternity.
Justice Nariman acknowledged that the value of fraternity today is under siege. He urged students and citizens to remember the fundamental duties of promoting harmony and preserving India’s composite culture.
“Only if you transcend all barriers which are religious, social etc. can you achieve fraternity or what is called common brotherhood in the fundamental duties chapter. The word composite is very, very important.”
Justice Nariman described his years on the Supreme Court bench as the toughest of his life.
“My retirement is the happiest phase of my life incidentally because judgeship was imprisonment which was not simple but rigorous. It was terrible. Seven years were very very very difficult. And in the last four years I’ve got back to sanity.”
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman
