Stories of women who helped draft the Constitution of India

Sub : Polity

Sec: Constitution

Context:

On Constitution Day (November 26), President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the contributions of women members in India’s Constituent Assembly.
The 299-member body had 15 women, including prominent figures like Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kripalani, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, as well as lesser-known women from diverse backgrounds.

Ammu Swaminathan (1894-1978):

A political activist from Kerala, she opposed restrictive widowhood practices and advocated for gender equality in the Constituent Assembly.
She strongly opposed the oppressive customs imposed on widows.
After independence, she served as India’s goodwill ambassador to countries such as Russia, China, and the US.
Among her children was Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, who joined the Indian National Army.

Annie Mascarene (1902-1963):

Born in Travancore (now Thiruvananthapuram), Annie Mascarene came from a Latin Christian family considered to be at the bottom of the caste hierarchy.
She actively campaigned for the rights of marginalized groups.
Voting rights in the legislature were limited, excluding lower-caste Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims. Mascarene joined the All Travancore Joint Political Congress, advocating for universal adult suffrage.
Despite facing physical attacks, she remained committed to her cause.

Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul (1909-2001):

Born into a royal family, she defied conservative norms by discarding purdah and engaging in politics. A member of the Muslim League and later Congress, she was an advocate for women’s rights and opposed separate electorates based on religion.
She was the only Muslim woman in the Constituent Assembly of India.

Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912-1978):

The first Dalit woman to graduate in science in Cochin, Velayudhan was a strong advocate for social justice.
She belonged to the Pulaya community and faced discrimination throughout her life.
She became the first Dalit woman in the Cochin Legislative Council and later joined the Constituent Assembly, where she disagreed with Ambedkar on separate electorates.

Renuka Ray (1904-1997):

Born in Pabna, present-day Bangladesh, Renuka Ray came from an illustrious family. Her father was an Indian Civil Services officer, and her mother was one of the first women students at Calcutta’s Presidency College.
Ray was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the freedom movement after meeting him in 1920.
Ray campaigned for women’s rights, including divorce and inheritance laws. She opposed women’s reservations in legislatures, believing it would insult their intelligence and impede growth.