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. 

 The Founding Mothers: 15 Women Architects of the Indian Constitution

2016

The current question of women’s autonomy and rights in India is rooted in the nineteenth century when the quest for independence of the country from British rule was going on and the issues of women’s rights gained a central position in debates on social reforms. Although, at that point in time, the notion of gender justice or gender equality had not gained ground, yet, the social reformers were of the view that something needs to be done about improving the situation of women. Women then were construed as members of the community rather than individuals on their own and therefore, the notion of women’s entitlements was interpreted within the context of the religious, personal, and customary law sphere which never treated women as independent entities. The official colonial and post-colonial discourses in pre-independent India were initiated by male reformers who articulated their thoughts on the abolition of Sati or on the age of consent. The amendments of personal laws were not women-friendly or provided for equality of sexes, rather these were based on orthodox opinions as evident from debates surrounding the Age of Consent Bill, Indian Divorce Act, Indian Succession Act of 1865, Hindu women’s Right to Property Act 1937 or the Hindu women right to Divorce Bill, 1939. Even during the debates on fundamental rights in the Constituent Assembly, men argued that ‘sex’ should not be mentioned as a ground of discrimination. But it was the women members who insisted that where fundamental rights were concerned the term man could not stand in for both male and female. However, in spite of the fact that equality on the basis of sex was mentioned in the Constitution, it could not contextualize women as independent beings and visualize them as members of the community.

The women, though few, raised women’s concerns and voiced women’s questions in the debates in pre-independent India within the given social context; and therefore the Constitution of India when finalized does reflect all of these concerns. These Constituent Assembly debates shaped the process of state formation and also guided the attitude toward women’s questions. This book looks at those women who raised their voices, pushed the concerns for inclusion, and highlighted the women’s concerns when the Constitution was being made. These and many other women played a significant role in the making of the Constitution. Yet, their works remain in the shadow, their faces invisible, their voices hidden and their courage unsung. They were the crucial architects of the Indian Republic who made substantial leaps in the history of India. Here we have made an attempt to look at their life, their views, their thoughts and the issues that they raised, which played a significant role in shaping the document called Constitution. We, therefore, call them the founding Mothers of the Constitution who brought in specific women-related concerns in contrast to the Fathers of the Constitution who sometimes favoured women’s questions, sometimes rejected women’s notions or sometimes overlooked women’s concerns. These women chose an unconventional path and voiced their thoughts in an arena dominated by men, and made their mark while writing the destiny of the Indian Republic.

The Founding Mothers: 15 Women Architects of Indian Constitution

 The Book Release event that took place on March 8, 2016

Justice Kurien Joseph 

Professor Mridula Mukherjee

Professor Bulbul Sharma

Pamela Philipose 

Dr MP Raju

Shabnam Hashmi

Sr Mary Scaria

Shalu Nigam 

At this book event, one of the most significant and thought-provoking concerns raised was the continued neglect of the Founding Mothers in post-colonial India. Why have the women who contributed so meaningfully to the freedom struggle and the building of modern India been so systematically erased from our national consciousness? Why do their stories remain footnotes, if mentioned at all, in our mainstream history, public discourse, or institutional memory?

This silence becomes even more troubling when placed in the broader context of India’s post-independence journey. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, decades of democratic governance, and growing conversations around gender justice, women still remain strikingly underrepresented in the highest echelons of power. Whether in the judiciary, the Parliament, or key positions within bureaucratic and academic institutions, the absence of women—especially in leadership roles—is stark.

The question, then, is not only about historical neglect but also about the systemic barriers that continue to limit women’s advancement. Structural patriarchy, tokenism, lack of mentorship, societal expectations, and institutional inertia all contribute to this ongoing marginalization. Even where legal frameworks exist to promote gender equality, their implementation is often half-hearted or obstructed by deep-rooted biases.

This raises urgent questions about the kind of democracy we have built—one that, despite its commitments on paper, has struggled to ensure equal participation and recognition for half of its population. Recognizing the contributions of the Founding Mothers is not only a matter of historical justice; it is also a political and cultural necessity. Their stories have the power to inspire new generations, challenge dominant narratives, and push institutions to reflect the inclusive ideals enshrined in our Constitution.

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 

In 2016, when we began the task of collecting material on the Founding Mothers of India—women who played pivotal roles in the country’s freedom struggle—we were met with a troubling silence in digital spaces. Information was sparse, fragmented, and often buried beneath layers of male-centric historical narratives. It quickly became clear that these women, despite their immense sacrifices and contributions, had been largely overlooked by mainstream historical discourse.

This erasure raises a deeply unsettling question: Why have these remarkable women been ignored when they stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in the fight for independence? They organized protests, led movements, endured imprisonment, and gave voice to the voiceless—yet their stories remain absent from our collective memory.

Even more troubling is the fact that educational institutions—schools, colleges, and even law schools—rarely include them in their curricula. History textbooks offer only passing references, if any, and students grow up learning about a selective and incomplete version of the freedom struggle. The absence of these narratives not only does a disservice to the legacy of these women but also deprives future generations of diverse role models who embody courage, resilience, and leadership.

It is disheartening to witness this historical neglect. Recognizing and honoring the Founding Mothers is not merely a matter of academic interest—it is a necessary step toward a more inclusive and truthful retelling of our past. Their stories deserve to be told, studied, and celebrated with the same reverence afforded to their male counterparts. Only then can we begin to repair the gaps in our national memory and truly understand the richness of our freedom struggle.

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. They left a long-lasting legacy. They were an inspiration for future generations of women.  

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.