Every year, November 26 is celebrated as Indian Constitution Day, commemorating the formal adoption of the Constitution of India in 1949. To celebrate this day and to instill constitutional values in young minds, a meaningful initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the Youth Wing of Chennai Jesuit Province. A recitation competition was organized for students from Classes 1 to 5, focusing on memorizing and reciting the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

The Preamble encapsulates the core values of Secularism, Democracy, Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Teaching children this foundational text at an early age is a powerful way to sow the seeds of democratic awareness, citizenship, and national pride.

In this initiative, 12 children from 8 evening tuition centres actively participated. These young students, despite their tender age, took the effort to memorize the Preamble and recited it with clarity and enthusiasm. Each child’s recitation was recorded as a one-minute video and submitted to the organizers. It was truly inspiring to witness these children articulate the ideals of the Constitution in their sweet and innocent voices. At a time when many adults may not even be familiar with the Preamble, our children stood as shining examples of constitutional pride. Their ability to understand, remember, and confidently present such an important national text was remarkable.

As a token of appreciation, each participant received an e-certificate, acknowledging their contribution. These certificates were printed and ceremoniously distributed during the Republic Day celebration, making the moment even more memorable for the children and their families. This initiative not only strengthened the children’s memory and public speaking skills but also deepened their understanding of India’s constitutional values. This model can be emulated. The videos were edited and uploaded to the IDEAS website. Enjoy watching. https://youtu.be/BeHZQqLVgZY

Priya, Trainer, Kal Oddar Unit