For a while now, I have been exploring the contributions of the Founding Mothers of India—those pioneering women who played a crucial role in shaping the nation during its formative years. Among them, Hansa Mehta stands out not only for her involvement in the Indian freedom movement but also for her key role as a member of the Constituent Assembly. She was a staunch advocate for women's rights, equality, and justice, both in India and on the international stage.
Born on 3 July 1897, Hansa Mehta was a passionate
advocate for women’s rights, a reformer, educator, and a prominent member of
the Indian Constituent Assembly. She also represented India at the United
Nations Human Rights Commission. She was a prolific writer and wrote
extensively on women's and children’s issues. Her work laid the foundation for
women's rights in India and made a lasting impact on the global stage, marking
her as a key figure in the fight for gender justice (Scaria and Nigam, 2016).In 1946, as president of the
All-India Women's Conference (AIWC), Mehta played a pivotal role in drafting
the "Indian Women’s Charter for Rights and Duties,", mentioned
above, along with other women activists. This Charter called for gender
equality, civil rights, and justice for women in India. It became a
foundational document in the campaign for women's human and constitutional
rights in India and abroad.
Mehta’s contribution to the drafting
of the UDHR was pivotal, particularly in ensuring gender-sensitive language in
the document, making it inclusive. As India’s delegate to the UN Commission on
Human Rights from 1947 to 1948, she played a crucial role in shaping the Bill
of Rights, not just as a symbolic gesture, but as a concrete commitment to
human dignity.
During
the early drafts, the word “man” was used, which excluded women. When Eleanor
Roosevelt, who chaired the drafting committee, remained unaware of the
omission, Mehta passionately advocated for a change. She suggested replacing
“All men are born free and equal” in Article 1 with “All human beings are born
free and equal.” Initially dismissed as unnecessary, Mehta persisted in her
efforts, and the wording was ultimately changed to “human beings,” ensuring
that the UDHR was inclusive of all genders. Her tireless work demonstrated her
unwavering commitment to gender equality and human rights
Johnson noted,
“Mrs Hansa Mehta, the Indian representative, an active
member of the Indian National Congress, the independence movement, had served
significant terms of imprisonment for her anti-colonial activities. President of SNDT Women’s University, Mrs
Mehta was evaluated by the United States State Department as an intelligent
person, a clear thinker, but her effectiveness was somewhat limited by the fact
that she spoke in a barely audible whisper.”
In this space, I am compiling some of Hansa Mehta’s most powerful and thought-provoking quotes. Her words offer valuable insights into her vision for an inclusive and egalitarian India, and they continue to inspire generations who seek a just society.
In her speech on 19 December 1946, she stated,
“What
we have asked for is social justice. We have asked for that equality which
alone can be the basis of mutual respect and understanding, and without which
real cooperation is not possible between a man and a woman. Women form one-half
of the population of this country, and therefore, men cannot go very far
without the cooperation of women.”
“A life of duties alone without rights means an
existence of a slave, while rights without duties would mean a state of anarchy
i.e. more licence than freedom. It is only when rights and duties are properly
balanced and integrated that we can get an ideal society where freedom in true
sense of the term can flourish.”
Hansa Mehta
"The goodness or badness of the Constitution depends on how it is going to work. If it works in the interest of people, it will be a good Constitution; if it works otherwise, it is a bad Constitution. It is for the future electors to elect the right kind of persons, who will work the Constitution in the interests of the people. The responsibility, therefore, lies with the people."
Hansa Mehta
“A life of duties without rights means the existence of a slave; while rights without duties mean a state of anarchy i.e., more license than freedom. It is only where rights and duties are properly balanced and integrated that we can get an ideal society where freedom in the true sense of the term can flourish.”
Hansa Mehta, 1951 Human Rights and Their Significance, Hansa Mehta Papers, Speech and Writings, File No. 26, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi
Johnson Geln M. (1998) A Magna Carta of Mankind: Writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A History of its Creation and Implementation 1948-1998, By M Glen Johnson and Jaunsz Symonides, UNESCO p. 24
Labels: constitution, Freedom, rights, social justice, UDHR
