On the eve of Republic Day, with the growing dominance of Hindutva or Hindu nationalism, it is pertinent to recall the debate in the Constituent Assembly on whether to invoke God and refer to Mahatma Gandhi in the Preamble to the Constitution. The debate was triggered because of HV Kamath proposing an amendment for inserting “In the name of God” before “We, the people of India,” the words with which the Preamble begins.

Dr Rajendra Prasad, presiding over the debate, suggested that Kamath should not insist on the amendment as it befitted neither God nor Gandhi to be voted upon in the Assembly. Kamath said he was sure the people would endorse his “amendment in toto,” as it reflected the ethos of Indian civilisation to pray to God for acquiring strength, courage and wisdom to “transmute our baser metal into gold”.