Acharya Prashant addresses the perceived conflict between Indian culture, religion, and the democratic values of the Constitution. He clarifies that the problem lies in the definition of religion and culture. Culture represents day-to-day behavior, habits, and beliefs, which in India are largely based on the Smriti—texts like the Puranas and Dharmashastras that form the periphery of religion. In contrast, the essence of the Hindu religion is found in the Shruti, which includes the Upanishads, Vedanta, and the Bhagavad Gita. Acharya Prashant argues that while the Constitution may not explicitly state it, its core values of liberty, equality, and fraternity are deeply aligned with the principles of Vedanta found in the Shruti. He explains that the actual conflict is not between the Constitution and religion, but between the Constitution and the prevailing culture derived from Smriti. Furthermore, there is a fundamental conflict between this culture and the actual essence of religion itself. He suggests that the Constitution resonates closely with the core of Sanatan Dharma. Therefore, the perceived threat to constitutional values can be addressed by reviving the true, essential form of religion. By returning to the Shruti, society would find that its religious values are already in harmony with democratic principles, bridging the gap between cultural practices and constitutional ideals.
