Constitution is a dynamic collection of ideas, says Venkaiah Naidu

Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday (January 04, 2026) termed the Constitution of India “a dynamic collection of ideas rather than a rigid or unchangeable document”, and emphasised that its framers provided future generations with the power to amend it in response to changing needs.

Speaking at the inaugural session on the fourth day of the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival, where he released the Telugu translation of Ram Madhav’s book “Partitioned Freedom and Our Constitution – Our Pride”, he said that true faith in the Constitution lies in believing in all its principles and being willing to practice them in everyday life.

Drawing from his personal experience during the emergency period, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu underlined the importance of democracy and constitutional values. He noted that Ram Madhav’s writings effectively reflect the spirit of the Constitution and its underlying principles. Expressing pride that Mr. Madhav is a Telugu author, who has earned national recognition, he observed that the author’s English works have received wide acceptance across the country.

Mr. Venkaiah Naidu stressed that the youth of the country must not only be aware of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution but must also recognise and sincerely perform the duties enshrined in it and described the fulfilment of duties as true patriotism. He said the books are written in a language accessible to young readers and bring to light several historical facts that were previously suppressed due to ideological bias.

Suppressing historical truths for any reason, he said, is inappropriate. Despite differences in religion and tradition, he asserted that national identity must remain paramount and lamented that many patriots were forced to identify as either Indian or Pakistani following Independence and Partition.

Calling for more writing rooted in truth rather than sensationalism, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu urged socially responsible citizens to promote reading habits by gifting books, noting that books have both immediate and lasting influence on society.

Author Ram Madhav said that changes in opinions and beliefs among individuals and societies are natural over time. He recalled that while the Partition was widely opposed in 1905, it was quietly accepted in 1947, and said that its consequences continue to affect the nation even today. He described it as tragic that Independence and Partition occurred on the same day and said his writings were undertaken at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help 21st century youth understand these historical developments.

Mr. Madhav also highlighted the role of B.N. Rau in drafting the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s pivotal contribution in finalising it, noting Ambedkar’s view that democratically elected governments have the right to amend the Constitution when necessary. Other speakers at the event praised the books for clearly explaining constitutional evolution, freedom movement history, and ideological perspectives in a concise and accessible manner.