Conceptualizing Freedom: M.N. Roy’s Revolutionary Blueprint for India’s Constituent Assembly

 

https://amzn.in/d/aiN4bMd

This book is available at Amazon 

It is about the significant contribution made by the Indian intellectual leader, M.N. Roy, who first proposed the idea of convening a Constituent Assembly in 1928, amid opposition to the Simon Commission. He argued that Indians must independently frame their Constitution, rejecting any Assembly under British control as lacking true sovereignty. 

This book explores Roy's vision of the Constituent Assembly. As a revolutionary, he visualized the CA as a democratic body arising from mass struggle, not a mere legal formality. Over time, he developed this vision through speeches and writings. He also advocated for including Fundamental Rights, as seen in the 1931 Karachi Resolution. For Roy, constitution-making was a transformative act of collective political will, rooted in the people’s active participation. He also authored the draft Indian Constitution in 1944, which was circulated by the Radical Democratic Party.

This work argues that Roy’s conception of the Constituent Assembly differed from his contemporaries and extended far beyond the procedural mechanics of constitution-making. For Roy, constituting the Constituent Assembly was a radical, democratic, and revolutionary project rooted in the active participation of informed, conscientious citizens addressing the immediate concerns of the masses.

This book concluded that if applied today, Roy’s vision could serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of participatory democracy. It underscores the need for civic engagement, transparency, and public accountability in constitutional governance, especially in times when democratic institutions are under stress. His ideas remain relevant as they challenge us to envision constitution-making not as a bureaucratic task but as a continuous, inclusive, democratic, people-driven process.

A quote from this book to demonstrate Roy's idea of the Constituent Assembly:

In his address at Faizpur, Roy elaborated on his idea of the Constituent Assembly, stating, “A Constituent Assembly means nothing less than a challenge to the self-assumed prerogative of the British Government to dictate the political right of Indian people…For us the Constituent Assembly is not only an agitation and propaganda slogan but also a slogan for practical politics. When we raise the slogan, we raise the issue of the capture of power.”

Another quote by MN Roy, as mentioned in this book 

"The idea of the Constituent Assembly means the determination of the Indian people to create an organ of power for asserting their right to self-determination."

Remembering the Founding Mothers of the Indian Constitution

March 8, 2025

In my article that appeared here https://janataweekly.org/remembering-the-founding-mothers-of-the-indian-constitution/, I wrote about the Indian women who played a key role in pre-colonial times, contributing immensely to the freedom struggle and shaping the Indian Constitution. 

The pioneer women paved the way for democracy, and it is because of their efforts that Indian women today enjoy equal citizenship rights. They serve as a role model for future generations. Their legacy continues to inspire generations of women to engage with the state and assert their citizenship rights. 

Decades later, the impact of their work is visible. Then, 15 women participated in drafting the Constitution; today, 1.4 million women serve as panchayat leaders. While more women must be joining the top-level decision-making bodies, including the Parliament, the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the Legislative Assemblies, it is important to celebrate the role of the Founding Mothers. 

As the world celebrates Women's History Month, India could take a moment to recognize the contribution of its Founding Mothers, who advocated for lasting changes. 

As early as 1939, women's collective, in their report of the Sub-Committee on Women's Role in Planned Economy, reimagined the Indian woman as a complete, self-sufficient, and pro-active citizen. 

This report noted, 

"We do not wish to turn a woman into a cheap imitation of a man or to render her useless for the great tasks of motherhood and nation-building. But in demanding equal status and opportunity, we desire to achieve for women the possibility of development under favourable circumstances of education and opportunity, and while doing so, urge upon the State its responsibility towards women in this respect."

Based on this report, the Indian Women's Charter on Rights and Duties was prepared, which highlighted that educated and capable men and women, enjoying their rights to freedom and equality, could contribute to societal progress. 

The outcome of their struggles was a radical step towards liberation. The writing of the Constitution refuted the colonial logic of natives being incapable of self-rule. 

The Founding Mothers significantly shaped the Preamble, advocating for equality, liberty, justice, democracy, and secularism, besides affirmative actions for the marginalized. 

Despite facing numerous challenges, they championed the rights of women in a male-dominated society. 

Their legacy continues to inspire future generations. 

Quotes by Hansa Mehta

 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 

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

The Founding Mothers: 15 Women Architects of the Indian Constitution

 THE FOUNDING MOTHERS: 15 Women Architects of the Indian Constitution

2016

A Book 

by Sr Mary Scaria and Shalu Nigam 

Media House Delhi 

When the mainstream discourse has forgotten the women who played a significant role in the making of the Indian Constitution, this book was the first of its kind to put together brief profiles of those 15 women who drafted the Constitution. These women include 

Ammu Swaminathan

Annie Mascarene.

Begum Aizaz Rasul

Dakshayani Velayudhan

Durgabai Deshmukh.

Hansa Mehta

Kamala Chaudhri

Leela Roy

Malati Devi Choudhury

Purnima Banerjee

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Renuka Ray

Sarojini Naidu

Sucheta Kripalani.

Vijayalakshmi Pandit.

These women played a significant role in the freedom struggle. Many have dedicated their lives despite facing misogyny. Though one of the critiques being raised is that many of them are from the elite classes, they played a pivotal role in crafting women's rights as equal citizens. When a section of the orthodox nationalists sees women as mothers, wives, and daughters, it is the progressive discourse that demands women's equal rights.