Eleanor Finch
The Indian Constitution, the world's longest for a sovereign nation, was enacted in 1950 and has been amended over 100 times since. The Constituent Assembly of India first met in December 1946, with 207 members present. The Assembly had grown to 299 members by December 1947, and the drafting committee was formed under the chairmanship of Dr B. R. Ambedkar. The constitution was signed in January 1950 by members including Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya. The constitution's general structure was the responsibility of civil servant Sir B. N. Rau, who became the first Indian judge at the International Court of Justice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of formation | 9 December 1946 |
| Total members | 389 |
| First president | Sachchidananda Sinha |
| President | Rajendra Prasad |
| Vice-president | Harendra Coomar Mookerjee |
| Legal adviser | B.N. Rau |
| Key figures | B.R. Ambedkar, Sanjay Phakey, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Vallabhbhai Patel, Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, Sandipkumar Patel, Abul Kalam Azad, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Nalini Ranjan Ghosh, Balwantrai Mehta |
| Female members | Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Amrit Kaur, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Begum Aizaz Rasul, Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah, Ammu Swaminathan, Dakshayani Velayaudhan, G. Durgabai, Sucheta Kripalani, Purnima Banerji, Kamala Chaudhri, Leela Roy, Malati Choudhury, Renuka Ray, Annie Mascarene |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly of India
The Indian Constitution, the supreme legal document of India, was drafted by the Constituent Assembly of India. The Constituent Assembly was formed following negotiations between Indian leaders and members of the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India from the United Kingdom. The Assembly was established while India was still under British rule.
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 laid down the composition and structure of the Constituent Assembly, and elections were held for the first time for the Constituent Assembly. The members of the Constituent Assembly of India were elected by the Provincial Assemblies by a single, transferable-vote system of proportional representation. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, with 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 represented the princely states, and 4 were from the chief commissioner provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, and British Baluchistan. The Constituent Assembly had over 30 representatives of the scheduled classes. The Assembly met for the first time on 9 December 1946 and its last session was held on 24 January 1950.
The Constituent Assembly included prominent figures such as B. R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar. Female members of the Constituent Assembly, such as Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, and Amrit Kaur, played a significant role and have been referred to as the "mothers" of the Indian Constitution.
The Constitution's Light: India's Visionary Architects
You may want to see also
B.R. Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as B.R. Ambedkar, is often regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". Born on 14 April 1891 in the Mhow Army Cantonment, Ambedkar was born into a Dalit Mahar family, a community that faced discrimination, segregation, and untouchability. As a young boy, he was even humiliated by his high-caste schoolfellows. However, Ambedkar excelled academically, obtaining degrees from universities in the United States, Great Britain, and Germany.
Ambedkar's role in India's independence struggle was complex. Unlike the dominant political discourse, which focused on the British ceding power to Indians, Ambedkar centred his interventions and advocacy on the protection and advancement of Dalit rights. Consequently, he often clashed with the Indian National Congress. Despite this, he played a pivotal role in drafting the Constitution of India, which became effective on 26 January 1950. As a social reformer, he championed the rights of Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and was instrumental in the constitutional abolition of the discriminatory practice of "untouchability".
Ambedkar held several key offices and made significant interventions and speeches during the constitution-making process. He served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and was a member of other important committees, including the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights. He intervened in nearly every debate, defending the draft constitution that the committee had prepared. Notably, he wrote and submitted "States and Minorities" to the Constituent Assembly's Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, providing a strong constitutional framework for the protection of the Scheduled Caste community.
Ambedkar also advocated for extensive economic and social rights for women, winning the Assembly's support for introducing a system of reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools, and colleges for members of scheduled castes and tribes, as well as for the Other Backward Class. Additionally, he clarified the fundamental principle of federalism in the constitution, asserting the division of legislative and executive powers between the Union and the States, with co-equal status.
Ambedkar's contributions to the Indian Constitution were significant, earning him the title of "Father of the Indian Constitution".
Granville Austin's Insights on the Indian Constitution
You may want to see also
Female members of the Constituent Assembly
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in 1946, before India gained independence from the British Raj. The Assembly consisted of 389 members, out of which 15 were women. These women came from diverse backgrounds and had extensive experience in the national freedom struggle and local movements. They faced and overcame challenges such as sexism and patriarchal norms in their personal lives, which influenced their ideas for the future of India.
The female members of the Constituent Assembly included:
- Begum Aizaz Rasul: The only Muslim woman in the Assembly, Rasul advocated for minority rights in a secular state and opposed separate electorates on communal lines. She was also the President of the Indian Women's Hockey Federation and established the All India Women's Hockey Association.
- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit: Often sidelined as the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandit was a diplomat and revolutionary. She was the first woman cabinet minister during the British rule in India and one of the first leaders to call for an Indian constituent assembly to frame a Constitution.
- Hansa Mehta: A freedom fighter and women's rights activist, Mehta remained committed to women's issues throughout her life. She argued against reservations for women, advocating for social, economic, and political justice instead. She also served on the board of UNESCO and became the first Vice-Chancellor of MS University in Baroda.
- Durgabai Deshmukh: Along with Hansa Kumari, Deshmukh made strong arguments for a Uniform Civil Code to ensure greater equality for women during the debate on the Hindu Code Bill.
- Sarojini Naidu: A poet and political activist, Naidu was an active supporter of the Indian independence movement and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Amrit Kaur: A member of the Indian National Congress, Kaur worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
- Dakshayani Velayudhan: Born into the Pulaya community of Kerala, Velayudhan faced discrimination from upper-caste communities. She was the first woman from the Scheduled Castes to graduate in India and sided with B. R. Ambedkar on issues relating to the Scheduled Castes during the Constituent Assembly debates.
- Ammu Swaminathan: From an upper-caste Hindu family in Kerala, Swaminathan was a freedom fighter and instrumental in forming the Women's India Association in 1917. She became a part of the Constituent Assembly from the Madras Constituency in 1946 and was later elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Madras State in 1952.
- Annie Mascarene: A lawyer and politician in Travancore, Mascarene fought to integrate the princely state of Travancore into independent India. She became the first woman to hold a ministerial and legislative assembly position in Travancore and believed in the centralisation of power for a well-functioning democracy.
The Artistic Hand Behind India's Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The role of Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat, and statesman who played a crucial role in the framing of the Indian Constitution. Born on 14 November 1889 in Allahabad, Nehru was a prominent leader of the Indian nationalist movement in the 1930s and 1940s. He advocated for India's independence from British rule and, upon independence in 1947, became the country's first prime minister, serving for 16 years.
Nehru played a significant role in the process of India's transition to independence and the establishment of a democratic framework. He was a key figure in the Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting and adopting the Indian Constitution. The Constituent Assembly was formed following negotiations between Indian leaders and the 1946 Cabinet Mission from the United Kingdom. Nehru's influence on the Constitution was substantial, marked by his commitment to democratic principles and constitutional norms.
Nehru's contributions to the Indian Constitution were both philosophical and practical. He promoted parliamentary democracy, secularism, and pluralism in the political arena. He also emphasised the importance of science and technology in shaping modern India. Nehru's leadership during the constitution-making process ensured that social justice and the rights of oppressed castes were enshrined in the document. This was exemplified by the inclusion of Jagjivan Ram, a member of the Dalit caste and a minister in Nehru's interim government, in the Constituent Assembly.
Furthermore, Nehru's influence extended beyond the domestic sphere. He steered India's foreign policy by advocating for non-alignment during the Cold War era. He led the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement, positioning India as a nation seeking to maintain peaceful relations with all countries, regardless of their ideological blocs. This stance allowed India to forge its path on the world stage, independent of the influence of the dominant power blocs.
Nehru's role in the creation of the Indian Constitution cannot be overstated. While B.R. Ambedkar, as the head of the Drafting Committee, made significant contributions, it is important to recognise that the members of the Drafting Committee did not have sole authority over the content of the Constitution. Nehru's influence on the overall direction and principles of the Constitution was decisive, and his leadership during the constitution-making process helped shape India's future as a sovereign, democratic republic.
Understanding India's Constitutional Emergency Provisions and Powers
You may want to see also
The constitution's implementation
The Indian Constitution was implemented under the Cabinet Mission Plan on 16 May 1946. The Constituent Assembly of India, comprising 389 members, was responsible for its drafting. The Assembly was formed following negotiations between Indian leaders and members of the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India from the United Kingdom. The Assembly's first session commenced on 9 December 1946, and it approved the draft constitution on 26 November 1949. The constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, commemorated as Republic Day. This date marked the end of the Constituent Assembly's role, and it became the Provisional Parliament of India, continuing until the first elections under the new constitution in 1952.
The Constituent Assembly was elected by the Provincial Assemblies through a single, transferable-vote system of proportional representation. The Assembly included 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representatives of the princely states, and four members from the chief commissioner provinces. The Assembly also had over 30 representatives of the scheduled classes. The Constituent Assembly of India became the Provisional Parliament of India, with 299 representatives following the partition in August 1947. The delegations from Sindh, East Bengal, Baluchistan, West Punjab, and the North West Frontier Province withdrew to form the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Several key figures played a significant role in the constitution's implementation and the workings of the Constituent Assembly. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the president of the Assembly, with Harendra Coomar Mookerjee as vice-chairman. Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, was a crucial member of the Assembly, contributing as a debater, lawyer, leader, and politician. B.R. Ambedkar, a jurist, social reformer, and politician, is often referred to as the "Father of the Indian Constitution." Other notable members included Vallabhbhai Patel, C. Rajagopalachari, K.M. Munshi, and Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
India's Constitution: Preamble Promises and India's Identity
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Constituent Assembly of India drafted the Indian Constitution. It was formed of 389 members, including 17 women, and was led by Congress Party.
Some of the most notable members of the Constituent Assembly were Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Amrit Kaur and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to draft the Indian Constitution.
The Indian Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It sets out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and establishes India as a sovereign, democratic republic.
