Education for Citizenship : Meaning, Definition, Meaning of Citizenship in the Context of India, Nature, Characteristics, Need and Importance of Development of Democratic Citizenship

Education for Citizenship

Meaning and Definition

Generally, the country in which a man is born, he is considered a cit that county however, in real sense of the term, he becomes the citizen of that when he has faith in the Constitution and government of that country, and ab the principles, laws and rules of the Constitution and government, and behaves accordingly. Thus:

By citizenship is meant that quality of citizens which incline them to have faith  in the Constitution and government of that, and abides by the principles, laws  and rules and to conduct accordingly

Meaning of Citizenship in the Context of India

Our country gained freedom on 15 August, 1947 and our Constitutions into force from 26 January, 1950. In our Constitution, each individual is accept the citizen of the country without any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, religion or sex, at the same time, it expects of its citizens that they would have fa the Constitution and government of the country and follow their principles, laws roles. The basic sprit of the Constitution has been mentioned in its preamble as follows:

"WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute b into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens JUSTICE, social, economic and political, LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief,i and worship, EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among all: FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and the integration of the Nation. In our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November 1949 do Hereby, Adopt, Enact and Give to Ourselves this Constitution." 

This declaration and resolve explains that India is a democratic country and is based on six principles of freedom, equality, fraternity, socialism, secularism and justice .Therefore, it is necessary to enlighten on this topic.

Freedom: The first principle of democracy is freedom. Democracy consider every human as the most valuable thing of the world, and provides him free opportunity to express himself and develop himself. With this freedom, our Indian democracy! allows freedom to follow one's religion and worship accordingly. In the Article 1 the Constitution, each citizen has been given the freedom to think, express, assemble. tour, reside, earn and sell property and choose trade or vocation. Democracy does not give the right to any person to occupy another's property, or one state to occupy another. or one society to occupy another. So, it would be apt to say that in democracy, freedom means to protect one's own freedom as well that of others.

Equality: Equality is the second principle of our democracy The Constitution of India does not discriminate between people on grounds of caste, culture, religion or sex etc. (Article 15); considers everybody as equal before the law (Article 14); gives equal opportunities to all in public services (Article 16); gives equal opportunities to use public places (Article 15); prohibits untouchability (Article 17); and also ends all titles introduced by the English, as those of Rai Bahadur, and thus, considers all citizens equal. All citizens are given equal rights in the Indian democracy, however, equal rights are corollary to the equal duties too.

Fraternity: Democracy favours national integration together with individual dignity. It can be possible when all citizens of the country are linked to one another with the feeling of 'we' This is called fraternity or brotherhood in other words Democracy wishes to see this spirit sprout in the entire humanity, it believes in the principle of coexistence. According to it, any problem of the country or world should be resolved through dialogue, and not by conflict.

Socialism: The term 'socialism' is taken to mean in two contexts: in the context of social structure and in the context of economy. In the social context, socialism signifies a classless society; that is, a society in which there is not practised any discrimination between man and man on any ground such as caste, culture, race, religion and sex etc.; all are given equal status. In the economic context, socialism lays stress on three points: first, the state should own the entire wealth of the country, second, all people should be paid according to their work; and third, there should be minimum difference between physical work and intellectual work. However, we can see several forms of socialism in the world. Indian socialism does not distinguish people on grounds of caste, culture, religion and sex etc.; and adopts mixed economy in the economic sphere, and gives people an opportunity to effect their economic development independently, however, it is opposed to any kind of exploitation.

Secularism: By secularism is commonly meant 'devoid of religion". In this sense, our democracy is not based on any religion; their is no religion as national religion. Its specific sense is equal respect to all religion. It has been adopted by our democracy in the sense of Gandhiji's Sarva Dharma Sambhav (harmony or equality of all religions). Articles from 25 to 28 in our Constitution have explained this in detail. Our Constitution has given the freedom to follow one's religion and worship accordingly. Besides, it gives freedom to profess and propagate it too, but it prohibits forced conversion. It also clearly declares that no educational institution run by the state will impart education of any religion. The state-aided educational institutions are also prohibited to impart any religious education.

Justice : Democracy espouses social, economic and political justice. In our Indian democracy, social justice has been meted out by eradicating untouchability, giving equal opportunities for education to all children in 6-14 years age group giving equal rights to all men and women, besides, it has done economic just ending begar custom, slavery custom and bonded labour and by providing equality for equal work, and political justice has been realized on giving everybody the rig vole and contest election without any discrimination on grounds of caste, religious or education etc. Besides, there is a provision of justice by the state without any discrimination , in case of any dispute regarding Fundamental Rights and for of rights.

 In the Indian context, by citizenship is meant having faith in Constitution of India and principles of Indian democracy and to conduct according to them. It is generally called democratic citizenship. 

Nature and Characteristics of Democratic Citizenship

Democratic citizenship contains the following elements: 

1. Faith in democratic principles.

2. Focus on one's own freedom as well that of others.

3. Taking all people of the country as equal and having a sense of respect for them. 

4. Having no discrimination on any grounds including caste, religion, sex or place.

5. Community sense of love, sympathy and cooperation. 

6. Sense of tolerance for all cultures and religions.

7. Belief in social, economic and political justice.

8. Faith in conservation of human rights.

9. Dedication to duty.

Need and Importance of Development of Democratic Citizenship

The system of governance in any country succeeds only when its citizens ha faith in it and they conduct themselves accordingly. At present, we have a democratic system of government in India; it can succeed only when the citizens of the country have faith in democracy and live a democratic way of life. It is a method of living which every individual enjoys the equal significance; everybody looks at another equal respect, and everybody is given complete freedom to effect his development however, without causing an impediment in the development of others. There is place for class discrimination and exploitation in this way of living. However, in o country, the situation is that our citizens have not been able to adopt this Art of Living So, it is compulsory to have a democratic attitude, it would be in this condition that all citizens will be able to use freedom in true sense of the word; they will be able enjoy their lives with a sense of equality, live together in harmony and respect es other's personality and individuality; will be able to cooperate with one another, will cultivate cultural and religious tolerance, everybody will preserve one another rights, and will also follow their own duties. Success of democracy depends democratic attitude and democratic conduct. 

Education for the Development of Democratic Citizenship

To cultivate democratic citizenship in Indian children, it would be mandatory to make the entire educational system democratic. It would be a matter of clation that we have already advanced towards this goal, yet there remains much more to be done.

(1) The first 10-year education should be made compulsory and free in the whole of country. At present, only first 8-year education is compulsory and free. Democratic citizenship cannot be cultivated in children up to this age level  well.

(2) The aims of first 10-year education should be democratic and one of the aims should be to explain the principles of democracy and cultivate democratic citizenship in each child.

(3) The curriculum of the first ten-year education should be based on democratic principles; it should compulsorily comprise social service and national service projects, and importance should be attached to physical work in it.

(4) In the first 10-year course, importance should be attached to democratic teaching-learning methods so that children learn to work collectively.

(5) Harsh discipline should be replaced with self-discipline in schools. Schools should create such environment in which children maintain discipline of themselves.

(6) The attitude of teachers should be democratic. They should be democratic in both thought and deed.

(7) Children should be given liberty to play and express themselves from the very early level; besides, they should be taught that they should protect each other's freedom and should not impede others' freedom.

(8) All children should be considered equal from the infant level; no discrimination should be exercised on grounds of caste, religion, place etc., and they too should consider themselves equal and should respect one another.

(9) All children should be treated with love, sympathy and cooperation right from the pre-primary level, and they should be trained in behaving with others with love, sympathy and cooperation.

(10) Children should be engaged in social service and national service tasks right since childhood.

(11) At the secondary level, adolescent students should be clearly taught about the six principles of Indian democracy, which are freedom, equality, fraternity, socialism, secularism and justice. Their basic spirit should also be explained.

(12) At this level, children should be taught about the Fundamental Rights given to citizens by the state, and they should also be taught about their Fundamental Duties as prescribed by the state, and their faith should be inculcated towards them.

(13) Democracy is a staunch supporter of human rights. At the secondary level, children should be clearly taught about the human rights and they shou inclined towards their conservation.

(14) At this level, adolescent students should be given general knowledge the main cultures and religions of the world, and it should be made clear all religions teach humanity to man. 

(15) For the realization of the above tasks, it is necessary for schools to have democratic form.

(i) There should be equal respect between management, principal and tead It is necessary that they should carry out their duties with love, sympathy and cooperation. It is natural for children to cultivate the sense democratic citizenship in such an environment. 

(ii) Students' cooperation should be sought in all tasks of the school cultivates a sense of joint responsibility.

(iii) Schools should constitute self-governments in order to train students the democratic system. 

(iv) Teachers should assist children in the organization of curricular and curricular activities in both collective and individual forms; their collective and individual problems too should be solved. 

(v) It is necessary that children are not exploited in schools at any level under any situation.

Conclusion 

We have been independent for the past 69 years, and the Constitution of l was brought into force 66 years ago; yet we have not been able to cultivate citizens in our citizens, we have failed to train them in a democratic lifestyle. The more advance towards realization of this goal, the more backward we are pulled by t political parties due to their vested interests. They leave no stone unturned in order form their vote banks by dividing the society in the name of region, caste and religious All of their activities are undemocratic completely; they do not respect the Constitution nor do they abide by the democratic principles. In truth, there is need of youth revolution in the country, and it is by this that the vote politics of the political parties can brought to an end, and it would help establish democracy in the country in true sense of the term.