Introduction -
1. The Sounds and Silences of Our Constitution -
2. Indian Environmentalism -
3. The Indian Legal Profession in the Age of Globalization -
4. The Rule of Law in India: Past and Present -
5. The Rule of Law in a Constitutional Democracy -
6. Feminist Lawyering and Feminist Judging -
7. Justice as a Narrative -
8. Why Does the Constitution Mater? -
9. The Rainbow above Kala Ghoda -
10. Inventing and Reinventing Constitutional identity -
11. A Borrowed Constitution: Fact or Myth? -
12. The Rules That Are India: From Plurality to Pluralism -
13. Visualizing the Constitution Through Artistic Prisms: Stories of Aspiration and Emancipation -
14. Why Representation Matters -
15. Speaking Truth to Power: Citizens and the Law -
16. Conceptualizing Marginalization: Agency, Assertion and Personhood -
17. Reconciling Rights and Innovation: Examining the Relationship Between Law and Technology –
18. Promoting Constitutional Morality Beyond Courtrooms -
19. Making Disability Rights Real: Addressing Accessibility and More -
20. Leveraging Technology Towards Dispute Resolution in Commercial Courts -
21. Universal Adult Franchise: Translating India's Political Transformation into a Social Transformation
22. Law and Morality: The Bounds and Reaches -
23. Law, Justice and the Heart: Cultivating Empathy in Legal Education -
24. A Prescription for Justice: Quest for Fairness and Equity in Healthcare -
25. Free Speech: identity, Expression and Self-Realization -
26. Journalism in the New Age: Challenges, Responsibilities and Excellence -
27. The Relationship Between Constitutional Rights and Constitutional Structure: Delicate Balances and Overarching Considerations -
28. Reformation Beyond Representation: The Social Life of the Constitution in Remedying Historical Wrongs -
29. Revisiting Penal Philosophy: Reformative Justice in India -
30. Upholding Civil Liberties in the Digital Age: Privacy, Surveillance and Free Speech -
31. Democracy, Debate and Dissent -
32. Navigating Discrimination in Public and Private Spaces: Constitutional Imperatives for the State -
33. Unveiling the Seventy-Fifth Year of the Supreme Court of India -
34. The Supreme Court at Seventy-Five: A Journey Through Law, Liberty and Justice -
Acknowledgement -
Notes.

In Why the Constitution Matters Justice D.Y. Chandrachud delves into the profound significance of the Constitution in shaping the nation’s identity and governance. This insightful book offers readers a nuanced understanding of the Constitution’s role in protecting fundamental rights, ensuring justice and maintaining the rule of law. The author brings to the forefront his experience of nearly twenty-five years as a judge, making complex constitutional principles accessible to both legal professionals and common citizens. Through engaging narratives and real-life examples, he illustrates how the Constitution impacts everyday life and why it remains a cornerstone of democracy. The book covers themes such as democracy, free speech, pluralism, gender, environmental governance, dissent and landmark judgments that have shaped modern India.
Why the Constitution Matters is not just a book for legal scholars; it is a must-read for anyone who values democracy, justice and the rule of law. Discover why the Constitution is more than just a document; it is the foundation of a just and equitable society.