When the principles of democracy, and the values in the Constitution of India are consigned to the pages of History texts, the onus falls on the citizens to become custodians of this wealth.
This was the realisation of Bengaluru-based aerospace engineer Vinay Kumar, who believes that one need not have great power to execute great responsibility.
“Heritage and culture are part of the Constitution of India. The artwork in it includes 4000+ years of civilizational history,” says Kumar, who launched the Reclaim Constitution initiative.
Unlike most themes surrounding the Constitution that speak only of the founding fathers, Kumar was determined to showcase the contribution of the founding mothers.
In Achyut Chetan’s, The Founding Mothers of the Republic he found, “an iconic group photograph featuring 11 of 17 women who were elected to the Constituent Assembly.”
Miles away, in Tiruchy, the impact of Kumar’s endeavours is becoming evident. The Reclaim Constitution dolls have enriched the educational journey of eight-year-old Aaranya Aroon.
Since the beginning of the Navaratri festival, Aaranya, under the guidance of her mother Anu Aroon, has been posting videos detailing information on these notable figures in Tamizh.
The focus, Aroon says, is about engaging younger generations. “It’s an effort to preserve and pass on these values, which are important in the current social and political climate.”