STORIES OF WOMEN WHO HELPED DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

National Symbols: Contributed to the discussions on adopting national symbols that reflected India’s diversity.

Cultural Rights: Supported the protection of cultural and educational rights of minorities.

Women’s Cultural Role: Highlighted the contributions of women to India’s cultural heritage.

Federal Structure: Emphasized balancing power between the Centre and the states.

Economic Development: Highlighted the need for industrialization and development of infrastructure, especially in maritime regions.

Minority Rights: Addressed concerns of Christian minorities, ensuring their rights were protected.

Opposition to Separate Electorates: Argued that separate electorates would harm national unity. She stated, “It is in the larger interest of the nation that we should have joint electorates.”

Minority Rights: Supported the protection of minority rights within a unified electoral framework.

Personal Laws: Participated in discussions on reforming personal laws to align with constitutional principles without infringing on religious freedoms.

Abolition of Untouchability: Supported Article 17, stating that mere legal abolition was insufficient without social change. She remarked, “Unless the hearts of men change, no legal enactment can root out untouchability.”

Caste Discrimination: Called for education and social reform to eradicate caste-based prejudices.

Opposition to Separate Electorates: Opposed separate electorates for Dalits, believing it would perpetuate divisions.

Legal Aid: Proposed the inclusion of free legal aid in the Directive Principles to ensure justice for all.

Adult Education: Highlighted the importance of eradicating illiteracy among adults, particularly women.

Women’s Empowerment: Urged for removing social barriers, stating, “Women’s emancipation is essential for the nation’s progress.”

Equality Before Law: She argued for explicit provisions ensuring equality between men and women. She stated, “We want that in our Fundamental Rights there should be no discrimination between men and women.”

Uniform Civil Code: Advocated for a Uniform Civil Code to eliminate gender-based disparities in personal laws. She emphasized that personal laws should not infringe upon the rights of women.

Equal Pay for Equal Work: Pushed for the inclusion of “equal pay for equal work” as a fundamental right to eliminate wage disparities based on gender.

Language and Terminology: Insisted on the use of gender-neutral language in the Constitution to prevent any form of discrimination.

Kamla Chaudhry

Agricultural Reforms: Called for land redistribution and support for small farmers.

Education in Rural Areas: Stressed the importance of educational facilities reaching rural populations.

Empowerment of Rural Women: Encouraged policies involving women in rural governance and decision-making.

National Language: Participated in debates on the official language, supporting Hindi while advocating for respect towards regional languages.

Women’s Education: Asserted that educating women was essential for societal progress.

Social Reforms: Called for eliminating practices like child marriage and dowry.

Primary Education: Advocated for compulsory and free primary education as a fundamental right.

Tribal Welfare: Highlighted the exploitation of tribal communities, urging for protective measures.

Eradication of Social Evils: Spoke against practices like untouchability and caste discrimination, promoting equality.

Freedom of Expression: Emphasized that freedom of speech was crucial for democracy.

Labor Rights: Advocated for workers’ rights, including fair wages and safe working conditions.

Socio-Economic Rights: These rights are called for to be enforceable, not just guiding principles.

Right to Education: Argued for free and compulsory education for all children up to 14. She believed education was essential for the country’s progress.

Healthcare as a Right: Highlighted the need for accessible healthcare for all citizens. She said, “No country can be great if its people are sick and ailing.”

Women’s Rights: Advocated for the abolition of practices detrimental to women’s health and welfare, such as child marriage.

Land Reforms: Argued for the zamindari system’s abolition and land redistribution to the tillers.

Women’s Property Rights: Emphasized equal inheritance rights for women, stating, “Women must have the right to own and inherit property equally with men.”

Social Welfare: Advocated for state policies to reduce socio-economic disparities.

Universal Suffrage: Supported the inclusion of a universal adult franchise, ensuring voting rights for all adults regardless of gender.

Equality and Justice: Advocated for a Constitution that upheld all citizens’ principles of equality and justice.

Civil Liberties: Asserted the necessity of safeguarding individual freedoms against state infringement.

Women’s Representation: Highlighted the underrepresentation of women and called for greater inclusion in political and administrative spheres.

Social Justice: Emphasized the need for the Constitution to address poverty and inequality, stating, “Political democracy is meaningless without economic democracy.”

Human Rights: Stressed aligning the Constitution with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Peaceful Coexistence: Advocated for a foreign policy based on non-alignment and peaceful relations.

Gender Equality: Highlighted the importance of women in diplomacy and governance.