Page 117 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian

Constitution

means” evidently – benami. Manu says that he derived his law from

2 “One who has swindled another’s property or the vedas and codified them. This is a
money” - Thief tradition of democratic life of the vedic
3. “One who has committed adultery of his people that is about 4000 years old and

neighbor’s wife, or rape the Ramayana & Mahabharat were based
4. “A murderer on Manu Dharma
5. “Anyone who acts treacherously against his
functioned in ancient India, 1000 years ago.
Nation (a kandaka - Thorn in the life of the
All these qualification and disqualifications
people)”
are based on code of conduct for individual in
n These, a thief, rapist, swindler, murderer,
ancient Dharma Sastra especially of Manu and
desa drohi - anti national are the called Panca
Yajnavalkhya who were law givers.
mahapātakas five serious criminals.
All these qualifications and disqualifications of
n Other crimes are also included like one who has
the candidates are based on the code of conduct
insulted in word or deed
prescribed by Manu in his dharma sastra. Manu
n A criminal convicted but pardoned cannot stand
says that he derived his law from the vedas and
for election.
codified them. This is a tradition of democratic
n One who abets to crime cannot stand.
life of the vedic people that is about 4000 years
n Even one who supports a criminal cannot stand.
old. The great epics of India, Mahabharata and
n Who insults another man’s religion and accused
Ramayana were based on Manu Dharma. The
of murder cannot stand.
Chola emperors of Tamilnadu for 10th to 13th
n This native democracy was rooted in democratic
century repeatedly claimed that they belonged to
principles of election and law of Manu’s Dharma.
the family of Manu and they upheld the law of
This is a written democracy more than 1000
Manu for prosperity of the country. They repeat
years old. It is not only for the candidate all his
the concept of Samatva and samadarsana as their
family members and others will be disqualified
main ideology in which they say, everyone of their
for seven generations.
subject must feel they could live full life without
This was the democratic system that
any hatred between man and man. Tamilnadu

70 Years of Indian Constitution 117