Context
The Indian government has taken on the task of decolonizing the country. As a result of this project, well-known buildings have been replaced and "Bharat" is now used alongside "India." As the nation goes through these changes, we must think about whether the Constitution needs to adapt. If so, how and in line with what standards?

Mahatma Gandhi's Vision:   
·         Long before the 1950 implementation of the Indian Constitution, Mahatma Gandhi articulated an avant-garde indigenous vision of its ideal provisions.
·         In 1908, he emphasised the need of decolonizing governance as well as the fundamentals of government.
·         Gandhi sought to establish a decentralised system of governance by emulating the earlier village republics.
 
Gandhi's Declaration of Rights: 
The "Gandhian Constitution for Free India" was drafted by Shriman Narayan Agarwal in order to put Gandhi's beliefs into practise. But this text served more as a moral code than a legal document because it coupled rights with a duty to be loyal to the state.

The Gandhian Constitution had some drawbacks:   
·         Gandhi's aim was ethically admirable, but it faced some practical challenges. Legal definition and evaluation of state loyalty would be difficult due to the potential for persecution.
·         Gandhi and Ambedkar had heated disagreements about a variety of topics, including the size of the state and how it should operate in the economy. 
·         Gandhi believed that the only way to bring about enduring change was through personal transformation rather than enforcing rules.

The Contribution of B.R. Ambedkar:   
·         In 1947, as India was on the approach of independence, Gandhi saw the need for a constitution that could garner widespread support.
·         He persuaded Rajendra Prasad to appoint B.R. Ambedkar as the chair of the writing committee despite the fact that Ambedkar had a completely different viewpoint from his own.

Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar disagreed on the following issues:   
•        Ambedkar favoured a strong government that could uphold law and order, particularly in remote places. 
•        He was in favour of government intervention to direct businesses and manage the economy.
•        He also included the protection of fundamental rights in his plan to overcome historical injustices like casteism.

Relevance to Today:   
·         India is going through a similar change as it did in 1908, the year Gandhi penned "Hind Swaraj." 
·         It would be wise to review constitutional ideas now in light of India's current needs.
·         The strong principles Gandhi put forward but were disregarded, as well as Ambedkar's vision, should serve as inspiration.

Conclusion  
Constitutional principles should be reviewed with care and consideration. Contrary to names and structures, constitutions shouldn't be modified drastically, but they still need to be adaptable enough to allow for progress.
Insightful knowledge can be gained from historical perspectives on the Indian constitutional ideas backed by B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. Recognising the differences in their perspectives and the pragmatic decisions they make is crucial.
 
LTX Mains Question
Q. Discuss how India's constitutional ideas have evolved historically and the importance of visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. Consider whether these ideas can be applied to contemporary India.