In a rare social initiative aimed at dismantling entrenched hierarchies, a village in Maharashtra has collectively decided to reject caste-based identity and organise community life around the values enshrined in the Constitution of India, particularly its Preamble.

Residents of the village have resolved that caste names and labels will no longer be used in public or private dealings. Instead, villagers say they will identify themselves simply as citizens bound by the constitutional ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The decision was taken through a village-level consensus process, reflecting a shared desire to address long-standing social divisions.

Community elders and local organisers said the move was driven by frustration with discrimination that has persisted despite decades of social reform and legal safeguards. By adopting the Preamble as a guiding document, they hope to reinforce mutual respect and social harmony, while sending a strong message against practices that perpetuate inequality.

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The resolution includes symbolic and practical steps. Copies of the Preamble have been displayed in common spaces, and public meetings now begin with its reading. Villagers have also agreed that disputes and community decisions should be guided by constitutional values rather than traditional caste norms.

Social activists have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a grassroots reaffirmation of constitutional morality. They noted that while laws can prohibit discrimination, meaningful change often requires collective social commitment at the local level. Observers say the village’s experiment could inspire similar efforts elsewhere, particularly in rural areas where caste identities remain deeply embedded.

While challenges remain in sustaining such a shift over time, residents say the decision reflects a conscious effort to redefine social relations for future generations. By choosing the Preamble as their common reference point, the village is attempting to translate constitutional ideals from text into everyday practice, highlighting the continued relevance of those principles in contemporary India.

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