India, Oct. 29 -- India's Constitution places social justice at the heart of the Republic. Its promise of equal citizenship requires a society in which caste, gender and economic circumstances do not determine a person's opportunities or dignity. The strength of that promise depends on how it shapes ordinary lives. Dr. Ambedkar's warning about the contradiction between political equality and social and economic inequality remains central to this task.

The right to vote establishes equality in choosing a government. Yet discrimination, poverty and dependence can prevent citizens from exercising their freedoms. Democracy therefore requires sustained efforts to change the conditions that keep people unequal. This is why the Constitution com...