More than 50 years ago, we the people of India gave ourselves the constitutional framework, which would ensure to all the citizens, irrespective of one’s birth, caste, colour, creed, gender, race or religion, social, economic and political justice, freedom of thought especially faith and religion; equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all; fraternity ensuring human dignity. The fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution, indeed, are more comprehensive and elaborate than those found in any other written constitution in the world. However, the ground realities have been very different; over the decades, the vision of the constitution has turned into, so to say, a mirage. Gross violation of human rights, discrimination and inequalities, poverty and hunger, long-term detention without trial, custodial deaths, fake police-encounters, sexual violence, communal violence, corruption and other social ills, are widely rampant. The promises made in the constitution are, after more than fifty years, as far from realization now as ever. What went wrong? Why have we fallen short of the worthy objectives enshrined in our constitution? What was needed to carry on the human rights movement towards the desired goal? A group of eminent and experienced human rights activists, educationists and jurists attempts to analyse the factors responsible for the sordid state of affairs and the challenging task facing the government as well as the people, both as individual and organised groups. This study would be of immense value to all concerned and contribute to help strengthen policy-making, advocacy and better understanding of human rights issues and challenges facing the country.
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