Indus Valley Times

By Barada Das

Cuttack , Dec 1 :  The Thinkers’ Club arranged discussion over our constitution from 26th of November to 26th January 2026. The first of the series is inaugurated by Professor Dr kamaljit Singh, the present vice Chancellor of the Madhusudan Law University, Cuttack. This is the 139th webinar of the club over Zoom platform and is continuing for last 5 years.  Professor Singh in his inaugural speech highlighted about the importance of our constitution and expressed his appreciation over the adoption of the day as Day of Constitution by the central Government in the year 2015.  He assured all possible co-operation in making the two months program successful.

Sj Bibek Pattanaik, IAS, the former Chairman of OPSC, presided over the meet. In his Presidential speech, he said about the sources of our Constitution and its importance for the nation.

Professor Dr Surjya Narayan Mishra, the former Head of the Political Science Department of the Utkal University was the Chief Speaker. Prof Mishra, in his speech discussed chronologically the developments made in preparing the Constitution of our Country. According to him, the Constitution is the Supreme Law of The Country. The Modi Government in 2015 observed the 125th Centenary of B.R.Ambedkar, who is considered as the father of the Indian Constitution as the Constitution Day. This is the befitting honour to Ambedkar. He said, all citizens need to know, what is said in our Constitution. The observance of the Constitution day is a step to make the citizens aware about the constitution. He talked in detail about the importance of the day, the constitution and how it is made. He also spoke on the preamble of the constitution and how it is made taking the important aspects of the constitution of the other developed countries like USA, UK, France, Australia, Soviet Russ, Germany, Switzerland etc. He pointed out that, some of the amendments to the constitution were not for the country or its citizens; it was politically motivated. For example, reservations for some categories of unprivileged people were initially for a period of 10 years. It is extended till today is not a healthy move.  Similarly to add the word “Secular” was not a necessity. When the Constitution provides freedom of religion, it means secularism. Some people added it for political mileage and this is not a healthy trend.

Barada Prasanna Das, the President of the Club moderated the meet. The technical aspect of the club was managed by Sj Jyoti Malla.

The meeting was attended by many dignitaries and intellectuals. Advocate Sanjib Mohanty, a practitioner at the Supreme Court, Dr Nanda Nandan Das, former Chief Engineer and Secretary of the works department, Prof Umasankar Misra, Mr Janmejaya Sahoo participated in discussion and they were clarified on their inquiries.

It is decided to hold the second meeting in the series on the coming Sunday and Prof Manas Behera will be the Chief Speaker.

The meeting ended with vote of thanks by AB Mohapatra, former Governor of the Rotary Club.