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In a symbolic gesture blending love and civic awareness, a couple from Palode near Thiruvananthapuram, Jabirul Hasan and Ashina, will marry on Sunday by exchanging a copy of the Constitution of India, in addition to the conventional religious ceremony. The event aims to celebrate both commitment and constitutional values, promoting awareness of the country’s foundational principles. A wedding that celebrates constitutional ideals The ceremony, to be held at the Vrindavanam Convention Centre, will include a display of the Preamble to the Constitution. Guests attending the function will receive a leaflet explaining the importance of the document, along with a copy of the Constitution itself.This will be the second such wedding in Kerala, following a similar ceremony held in 2023. For Hasan, the decision stems from his long-standing association with constitutional literacy initiatives. Having worked with the Kollam District Comprehensive Constitution Literacy Project — implemented by the Kollam district panchayat — Hasan said he wanted to continue spreading the message of constitutional values in new and meaningful ways. Promoting awareness through marriage Hasan currently serves as treasurer of the Constitution Literacy Council (CLC), an NGO dedicated to promoting constitutional awareness. The organisation has been instrumental in collaborating with government bodies to run literacy programmes across Kerala. “The idea we wish to share through this is that constitutional values should be integrated into family life,” Hasan said, explaining the motivation behind the unique ceremony. “My family supports me as they know that I work to spread the idea of the Constitution. I spoke to Ashina about the plan and she agreed. We will exchange the Constitution after the religious ceremony.” Following the Nikah ceremony, a message about the importance of the Constitution will be read out, and the event will conclude with the recitation of the National Anthem. Inspiration from Kerala’s literacy movement Hasan’s efforts to integrate civic awareness into social functions began after his involvement in the Kollam literacy campaign. In 2022, he was selected as a senator for the Constitution Literacy Project, where he participated in multiple awareness sessions across colleges and public gatherings in the district.He said the team is now working to bring more volunteers into the initiative as the programme expands to other districts. Ashina, though not a student of constitutional law, has expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. “She is very keen to learn and understands why it matters,” Hasan added. Continuing a growing tradition The idea of exchanging the Constitution during marriage first gained attention in Kerala last year when Abi Radhakrishnan, also a member of the CLC, and his colleague tied the knot in a similar fashion. They distributed around 1,000 copies of the Constitution to their wedding guests to mark the occasion. Abi, who played a role in planning Hasan and Ashina’s ceremony, said, “We intend to make this wedding a model event by promoting constitutional ideas and exchanging the Constitution.” Upholding the spirit of the Constitution The Kerala Institute of Local Administration, which spearheaded the state’s constitutional literacy programme, has announced plans to extend the initiative to more districts. The growing participation of young citizens like Hasan and Abi has helped create a social movement that combines civic education with personal milestones. As Hasan and Ashina prepare for their special day, their decision serves as a reminder that the principles of equality, liberty, and justice — enshrined in the Constitution — remain relevant not just in governance, but also in the values that shape family and community life.
