You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

Abraham Lincoln

Introduction:

Generally the major persons of a country are called her citizens. The constitution of India has defined the qualifications to be an Indian citizen. Generally those who are born in India, who are born of the Indian parents and who are the long time residents of India are accepted as the Indian citizens. Besides, there are some special categories too. Every citizen has certain rights to enjoy. So he would have the obligation to do certain duties to his country an nation.

Rights and duties play an important part in the development of a nation or the growth of an organization. Rights on the one hand give an individual an opportunity to be a part of development process while duties on the other hand make an individual obliged to play a part in the development. As a citizen of a democratic country we all are privileged to have some fundamental rights. But, apart from these rights we also have fundamental duties which we rarely talk about. Moreover responsible citizenship is not just about enjoying the fundamental rights and performing the fundamental duties mentioned in our constitution but it is about going beyond those duties.

Rights:

The Constitution of India has granted some fundamental rights to her Citizens. there are seven in number, such as; (1) right to equality, (2) right to freedom, (3) right against exploitation, (4) right to freedom of religion, (5) cultural and education rights, (6) right to property and (7) right to constitutional remedies.

Right to equality: It guarantees equality of opportunity to all in public employments, without discrimination of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Right to freedom: It guarantees freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, formation of associations and unions, free movement in India, freedom of inhabitation anywhere in India, freedom of acquiring, holding and disposing of properties and freedom of practicing any trade or profession.

Right against exploitation: Forced labour and traffic in human beings are prohibited.

Right of freedom of religion: Freedom of religion is guaranteed subject to provisions for health, morality, peace and order.

Cultural and educational rights: Linguistic, cultural and religious interests of the minorities are protected. They an establish and administer their educational institutions.

Right to property: No person can be unlawfully deprived of this movable and immovable property.

Right to constitutional remedies: Any citizen can move the Supreme Court of India for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

These rights are guaranteed by the Indian constitution. Any act of the Legislature which affects these fundamental rights can be challenged in a Court of Law.

Duties:

A citizen should have duties and responsibilities for his country. He should try to do the public good. He should control his conduct on the light of the good of his country. He should exercise his rights with proper judgment and obey the law of road and the like. He should try to build himself to do the best service for the country. He should have patriotism and fellow-feeling. As a citizen, he should know his responsibility to discharge his duties.

We always harp on our rights where ever we can and neglect the duties we generally have. As a citizen of our country we enjoy the rights of a privileged citizen and often we complain of the government's inability to provide services. Similarly in an organization, as an employee or a student in an institute we complain about the inadequacies of the system. But when it comes to our duty for the nation or institute, most of the times we are not aware at all. For instance as a responsible citizen, we have the duty of protecting the public properties, which we do not hesitate to destroy while protesting or demanding our rights. Destroying street lamps, burning tyres and vehicles, disrupting traffic are the common phenomena seen at the protest sites. Do we really need to do this? Have we ever realized the losses we cause to our country or organization in this manner? Do we ponder for a moment, how much effort it takes to build those structures?

Conclusion:

It is a matter of regret that most of the Indian citizens are neglectful of their duties to India. However, it is hoped, our student community will do their duties to the country, while enjoying the rights, guaranteed by the Constitution.

We the  People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defence. We are empowered by the constitution where we have been given the rights are given but the same constitution is also having the duties of a citizen which however is ignored  by our generation.