Constitution Empowering Marginalised: CJI Gavai’s Oxford Speech Inspires India

NEW DELHI, June 11: Constitution empowering marginalized—that was the powerful core message delivered by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai at the prestigious Oxford Union. Describing the Constitution as a “quiet revolution etched in ink,” CJI Gavai explained how it has transformed Indian democracy by uplifting the voices of the oppressed and historically excluded. (PTI)

From Exclusion to Empowerment: A Personal Journey

CJI Gavai, the second Dalit and first Buddhist to hold India’s highest judicial office, used his own story as a symbol of how the Constitution empowers marginalized communities.

“Many years ago, my community was labeled untouchable. Today, I speak here as Chief Justice. That is the power of the Constitution,” he said.

He called it not just a legal document, but a lifeline for those long denied dignity, voice, and justice.

Constitution Empowering Marginalised: Not Just Law, But a Lifeline

The Indian Constitution, CJI Gavai asserted, was authored with profound sensitivity to the realities of poverty, caste, and social exclusion. It was designed by the representatives of the most marginalized groups—women, Dalits, Adivasis, religious minorities, and the disabled.

“The Constitution empowers the marginalized by directly confronting inequality, not denying it,” he added.

Representation as a Tool of Equality

Referring to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gavai pointed out that democracy without social justice cannot survive. Representation of the backward and marginalized in politics, law, and public institutions was conceived not merely as equality but as restoration of dignity.

“Ambedkar didn’t just want votes for the poor—he wanted power shared among the oppressed,” Gavai stated.

Affirmative Action: Realising Equality, Not Replacing It

CJI Gavai highlighted key affirmative action milestones that show the Constitution empowering marginalized communities in real time:

• NALSA Judgment (2014): Recognized transgender persons as a third gender.
• Permanent Commission for Women (2020): Ensured equality in armed forces.
• 2023 Amendment: Guaranteed political reservations for women in Parliament and assemblies.
• Sub-classification in SCs: promoted intra-group fairness in reservation benefits.

“Affirmative action is not a contradiction to equality—it is the realization of its spirit,” he said, quoting Supreme Court rulings.

The Constitution’s Ongoing Revolution

CJI Gavai concluded by calling the Indian Constitution a living, evolving document that continues to challenge inequalities.

“It carries the heartbeat of those never meant to be heard,” he said. “It compels the State to uplift, to affirm, to repair.”

As India celebrates 75 years of its Constitution, Gavai urged citizens and institutions alike to renew their commitment to justice, equality, and representation.

Final Thought for Taaza Wire Readers

The Constitution empowering marginalized people is not merely a thought process—it’s a real life that keeps being rewritten. Through the journey and vision of CJI Gavai, the paper inscribed with ink has the potential to reshape fates.

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