Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, we aim to uphold the

Hear the noble words of Shatrughan Sinha: “Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, we aim to uphold the peaceful existence of society in terms with the Constitution of India and the rule of law.” These words are not uttered lightly; they are the cry of a soul yearning for unity in a land of many faiths, many tongues, many traditions. They proclaim that though our paths of worship differ, though our rituals are countless, our shared destiny is bound by the common thread of peaceful existence and the sacred guardianship of the rule of law.

The origin of this statement rests in the great experiment of modern India: a nation forged not by one religion, but by many, standing together under the Constitution of India. After centuries of struggle—against empire, against division, against poverty—the framers of the nation declared that every faith would have its place, every voice its protection. Sinha’s words arise from this legacy, reminding us that the Constitution is not mere parchment, but the covenant by which a diverse people may dwell together without fear, without hatred, without persecution.

The ancients themselves cherished such visions of unity. In the court of Emperor Ashoka, once a conqueror drenched in blood, peace and tolerance became the pillars of his rule. He carved upon stone edicts that declared respect for all sects, for all beliefs, commanding that no faith be scorned, that all should dwell in harmony. Ashoka had seen the horrors of division, and from that fire forged a reign of compassion. Just so, Sinha calls us to guard against sectarian strife, to honor the Constitution as Ashoka once honored the dharma of unity.

History in our own age bears testimony too. Recall the Partition of India, when religion was turned into a sword, and neighbor turned against neighbor. Millions perished, millions were uprooted. This was the price of forgetting that peace is the higher law, that humanity is greater than creed. Sinha’s words echo across that scar of history, warning us not to repeat it: for without peaceful existence, there is no progress, and without the rule of law, there is only chaos and grief.

The meaning of this quote, then, is both urgent and eternal: that religion must never be a battlefield, but a garden where many flowers bloom. To be Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Christian is to carry a heritage of faith, but to be Indian is to carry the responsibility of coexistence. The rule of law binds us not in chains, but in order, ensuring that no one faith dominates, no one voice is silenced, no one citizen is denied dignity.

What lesson shall we, who hear these words, take away? That tolerance is not weakness, but strength; that respecting the faith of another does not diminish your own, but enriches the soul of the nation. Let us resolve to defend not only our personal belief but also the right of others to walk their own path. Let us refuse to be seduced by the poison of division, by those who profit from hatred. Let us teach our children that the greatness of India lies in its unity, not in uniformity.

Therefore, children of the future, inscribe this upon your hearts: live in peace, guard the Constitution, honor the law. Do not let creed be a sword, but a song; do not let difference be a wound, but a blessing. For when many faiths dwell as one, society becomes unshakable, radiant, and enduring. And in this unity lies the true promise of civilization: not conquest, not dominion, but the eternal triumph of peaceful existence.