Remembering Netaji Bose during the framing of the Constitution of India

Secularism and Spirituality training  

Constituent Assembly Debates,

 6 December 1948

Shri H. V. Kamath    ...Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the House to the value and the

importance that all our teachers, from time immemorial, from the Rishis and the Seers

of the Upanishads down to Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have attached to spiritual training and spiritual instruction. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose went to the length of prescribing spiritual training and spiritual instruction to the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fouj. In the curriculum, in the syllabus of the Azad Hind Fouj, this item of spiritual instruction was included...

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Demand for N Holiday on Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Constituent Assembly Debates

22 January 1948

Mr. H. V. Kamath (C. P. & Berar: General): May I invite your attention, Sir, To the request made by a large section of this House that as a mark of tribute to Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, whose golden jubilee falls tomorrow, this House shall not meet tomorrow for the transaction of any business?

Spirit of Citizenship in the form of social service 

Constituent Assembly Debates,

 December 3,1948

 Shri H. V. Kamath:...I remember very well that during the proceedings of the National Planning Committee, which was brought into being by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and presided over by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and to which my friend Prof. K. T. Shah rendered yeoman service for a period of well over three or four years, in that  report it was suggested that all citizens should be conscripted for some social service; and Pandit Nehru when speaking on this subject went to the length of saying that no student should be awarded his academic degree unless and until he puts in six months or a year of some kind of social service...

  "God" In Oath  was added by invoking  oath used to be taken by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

 Constituent Assembly Debates,

27 December 1948

Shri H. V. Kamath   :

...for the words 'I, A. B. do solemnly affirm (or swear)', the

following be substituted:-

'In the name of God, I, A. B, do swear'

or alternatively,

'I, A. B. do solemnly affirm'."

Shri H. V. Kamath   ...I therefore feel that in a Constitution, apart from invoking the grace and blessing of God in the Preamble itself, when a solemn thing like an oath or affirmation is  concerned, it will be an empty performance, if when we take a solemn oath we do not do it in the name of God. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore, when he became the Commander-in-Chief and Provincial President of the Arzee Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, took the oath which ran thus:

"Ishwar ke nam par main pratigy karta hun."

Therefore, Sir, in the end, I would appeal to the House that we are heirs to an immortal and a spiritual heritage, a heritage which is not physical, nor material nor

temporal: a heritage which is of the spirit--a spirit that is, ever was, and ever shall be,a heritage that is eternal. Let us not squander this invaluable heritage. Let us not dissipate this heritage: let us remain true to our ancient heritage, our spiritual genius. Let us not lightly cast away the torch that has been handed down to us from time

immemorial.