Home India Lok Sabha Secretariat LOK SABHA SPEAKER DEFINES LEGISLATURES AS ‘SCHOOLS OF DEMOCR...
Date: 2026-07-15 Category: Press Release State: Union Government Country: India

LOK SABHA SPEAKER DEFINES LEGISLATURES AS ‘SCHOOLS OF DEMOCRACY’ WHERE LAWMAKERS LEARN VALUES OF DIALOGUE, CONSENSUS, AND SERVICE

Issued by Lok Sabha Secretariat · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** On 15 July 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla delivered the inaugural address at the 'Legislative Pride Journey' in Jaipur, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. The address emphasized the role of legislatures as "schools of democracy" and highlighted the necessity of public trust, decorum, and dialogue in sustaining democratic values. Key action items include a call for the digital preservation of legislative proceedings and a roadmap for young legislators to enhance their effectiveness through continuous study and ethical conduct. **Key Points / Main Content** **The Philosophy of Legislatures** * Legislatures are defined as "schools of democracy" where lawmakers learn values such as dialogue, discipline, consensus, and service. * Democracy is sustained by public trust, dignity, and a spirit of service, not merely by constitutional provisions. * Healthy debate and listening enrich democracy, while personal differences diminish the institution's impact. **Conduct and Responsibilities of Legislators** * A legislator's conduct is more memorable than their position; effectiveness is rooted in being well-prepared and well-informed. * Members are urged to rely on facts, logic, and constructive debate rather than rhetoric. * The dignity of the Chair and the decorum of the House must be preserved at all times, as every word spoken becomes a lasting part of history. **Legacy of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha** * The Assembly has spent 75 years promoting social justice, public welfare, and inclusive development through landmark legislation. * Its traditions are rooted in ancient Indian practices of *Sabha*, *Samiti*, and local self-governance via Panchayats. * The Assembly building itself serves as a symbol of democratic confidence and constitutional values. **Modernization and Future Outlook** * There is a critical need for the digital preservation of debates and proceedings to strengthen institutional memory and aid parliamentary research. * Legislatures must adapt to changing times by embracing technology while maintaining rich democratic traditions. * During "Amrit Kaal," institutions must remain focused on accountability, sensitivity, and transparency. **Impact Analysis** **Current and Former Legislators (MLAs and MPs)** **Impact** They are recognized as the primary actors in the "schools of democracy," whose contributions and interventions form the permanent history of the nation. **Action Required** They must prioritize meaningful participation, maintain the dignity of the House, and engage constantly with society to maintain credibility and integrity. **Young and Upcoming Legislators** **Impact** They are provided with a specific roadmap for professional development and effective representation of public aspirations. **Action Required** Required to cultivate habits of continuous study, attentive listening, and the use of logic and facts in legislative proceedings. **Legislative Secretariats and Institutions** **Impact** The document places a high value on the preservation of records and the technological evolution of the house. **Action Required** Must implement digital access to legislative records and adopt new technologies to support better legislative functioning and research. **The Public / Citizens** **Impact** Public trust is identified as the sustaining force of democracy. **Action Required** The document implies that the public's role is centered on participation and holding representatives accountable to a spirit of service.

Key Entities Referenced

Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha: The state legislative assembly of Rajasthan, celebrated in this document for its 75-year contribution to democratic traditions and its role as a foundational institution for lawmakers. Om Birla: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha who delivered the inaugural address, providing a roadmap for legislative conduct and the preservation of parliamentary dignity. Legislative Pride Journey: A Gathering of Former and Current Members: The specific event organized to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, serving as the platform for the policy remarks. Amrit Mahotsav: The national initiative under which the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly were organized. Amrit Kaal: A referenced period denoting the era leading to India's centenary of independence, during which legislators are urged to uphold the highest democratic ideals.
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Lok Sabha Secretariat LOK SABHA SPEAKER DEFINES LEGISLATURES AS ‘SCHOOLS OF DEMOCRACY’ WHERE LAWMAKERS LEARN VALUES OF DIALOGUE, CONSENSUS, AND SERVICE LISTENING AND HEALTHY DEBATE ENRICH DEMOCRACY AND SHAPE HISTORY; PERSONAL DIFFERENCES ONLY DIMINISH IT: LOK SABHA SPEAKER DEMOCRACY IS SUSTAINED NOT MERELY BY CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS BUT BY PUBLIC TRUST AND A SPIRIT OF SERVICE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER PEOPLE REMEMBER CONDUCT, NOT POSITIONS; A WELL- PREPARED AND WELL-INFORMED LEGISLATOR CAN EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THE PEOPLE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER SPIRITED DEBATES ARE HALLMARK OF DEMOCRACY, BUT DECORUM OF THE HOUSE MUST ALWAYS BE PRESERVED: LOK SABHA SPEAKER RAJASTHAN VIDHAN SABHA HAS STRENGTHENED INDIA'S DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS FOR 75 YEARS: LOK SABHA SPEAKER LOK SABHA SPEAKER DELIVERS INAUGURAL ADDRESS AT THE 'LEGISLATIVE PRIDE JOURNEY: A GATHERING OF FORMER AND CURRENT MEMBERS', ORGANIZED AS PART OF THE AMRIT MAHOTSAV COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RAJASTHAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY प्रव तथ: 15 JUL 2026 4:23PM by PIB DelhiJaipur, 15 July 2026: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today stated that legislatures are not merely law-making institutions, but "schools of democracy" where lawmakers learn the values of dialogue, discipline, consensus, and service. Highlighting the role and duties of lawmakers, he observed that they should clearly realize their obligations toward the people, as democracy is sustained not merely by constitutional provisions, but by public trust, dialogue, dignity, and a spirit of service. He made these remarks while delivering the inaugural address at the 'Legislative Pride Journey: A Gathering of Former and Current Members', organized as part of the Amrit Mahotsav commemorating the 75th anniversary of Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha. Describing Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha as the "first school" of his public life, Shri Birla noted that the democratic values, parliamentary traditions, and legislative conduct he imbibed in the House shaped his journey from a student activist to a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Member of Parliament (MP), and ultimately, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He recalled learning the true essence of parliamentary democracy within the Vidhan Sabha: that while listening and healthy debate enrich democracy and shape history, personal differences only diminish it. He emphasized that every debate and every word spoken in the House ultimately becomes a lasting part of democratic history. Congratulating Vidhan Sabha on completing 75 years of its democratic journey, Shri Birla observed that the state's democratic consciousness extends far beyond the history of the Assembly itself, remaining deeply rooted in India's ancient traditions of dialogue, consultation, and participatory governance. He noted that the traditions of Sabha and Samiti, local self-governance, and public participation have remained integral to Rajasthan's social and political ethos, sustained through its Panchayats and representative institutions. Further dwelling on the history and contributions of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha, he highlighted its significant role in promoting social justice, public welfare, and inclusive development through landmark legislation, meaningful debates, and visionary policymaking. Referring to the Assembly building, he described it as a symbol of democratic confidence and constitutional values, paying tribute to former Chief Minister Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in the construction of the present Assembly complex. Emphasizing India's democratic strength, Shri Birla observed that the world today recognizes the nation not only as the largest democracy but also as the most vibrant one. He stated that Parliament and State Legislatures together constitute the bedrock of India's democratic framework, adding that the strength of Parliament depends entirely upon vibrant, active, and dignified State Legislatures, just as the strength of the nation is built upon its States. Presenting a roadmap for young legislators, he advised them to cultivate the habit of continuous study, attentive listening, and meaningful participation in legislative proceedings. He reminded them that people remember conduct rather than positions, and that only a well-prepared, well-informed legislator can effectively represent public aspirations. He urged Members to rely on facts, logic, and constructive debate rather than rhetoric, observing that public life demands credibility, integrity, and constant engagement with society. He also reminded legislators that politics ultimately exists for public service and nation-building. Drawing from his own legislative experience, Shri Birla stressed the importance of maintaining the dignity of the Chair and respecting parliamentary traditions. In this regard, Shri Birla recalled his experience during his initial days as Lok Sabha Speaker when he was advised by a senior member to refrain from rising from the Chair to protect its dignity. He observed that while spirited debates are the hallmark of democracy, the decorum of the House must always be preserved. He remarked that every debate, discussion, and intervention becomes part of history and continues to inspire future generations. The more a legislator studies and listens, he said, the more meaningful and impactful their contribution to parliamentary discourse becomes.Highlighting the need to modernize legislative institutions, Shri Birla advocated for the digital preservation of debates and proceedings so that future lawmakers can learn from the experiences and deliberations of their predecessors. He observed that easy digital access to legislative records would strengthen institutional memory, enrich parliamentary research, and contribute to better legislative functioning. He also called for legislatures to continuously adapt to changing times by embracing technology while preserving their rich democratic traditions. Calling upon legislators to uphold the highest democratic ideals during India's Amrit Kaal, Shri Birla said legislatures must continue to remain institutions of dialogue, dignity, sensitivity, and accountability. He expressed confidence that the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly would continue to scale new heights in democratic functioning and remain a source of inspiration for legislative institutions across the country. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Rajasthan Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma; Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Shri Vasudev Devnani; Deputy Chief Ministers Smt. Diya Kumari and Shri Prem Chand Bairwa; Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Jogaram Patel; and Leader of the Opposition Shri Tikaram Jully. Several Members of Parliament, former MPs, Ministers of Rajasthan Government, serving and former MLAs, and other distinguished dignitaries were also present on the occasion. लोकतांत्रक परपं राओ,ं वधायी रीत-नीत और जनप्रतनधत्व क समृद्ध वरासत क प्रतीक राजान वधान सभा के गौरवशाली 75 वष के ऐतहासक अवसर पर आयोजत ‘वधायी गौरव यात्रा - वतमान एवं पूव वधायक का समागम’ के उाटन सत्र को संबोधत कया। यह वधान सभा मेर लए वधायी… pic.twitter.com/yduXehJ7RQ — Om Birla (@ombirlakota) July 15, 2026 राजान वधान सभा के गौरवशाली 75 वष के ऐतहासक अवसर पर आज आयोजत 'वधायी गौरव यात्रा - वतमान एव ं पूव वधायक का समागम' के उाटन पर माननीय सद स े संवाद कं गा। लोकतांत्रक परपं राओ,ं संसदीय मयादाओ ंऔर जनप्रतनधय के अमूल्य योगदान को समपत यह ऐतहासक समागम,… — Om Birla (@ombirlakota) July 15, 2026 *** AM (रलीज़ आईडी: 2284852) आगंतुक पटल : 681 इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Gujarati , Tamil

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