Context: On Constitution Day (November 26), the President of India recalled the role of women members in the Constituent Assembly of India.
Relevance of the topic: Prelims- Key facts about Women personalities.
Background:
- The Constituent Assembly was the body tasked with formulating the Constitution of independent India.
- It was constituted on December 9, 1946 under the framework of Cabinet Mission Plan (1946).
- It had 299-members, including 15 women members (of whom two later resigned).
- Begum Aizaz Rasul was the only Muslim woman in the Assembly.
- Two women members- Annie Mascarene and Malati Choudhury resigned later.
Women members of Constituent Assembly:
| S.No. | Women personalities | Important facts | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarojini Naidu | • From Hyderabad |  |
| • Popularly known as the “Nightingale of India” Participated in the Dandi March with Gandhiji (1930) |
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| • Presided over the Kanpur Session of Congress in 1925 (First Indian woman President). First Woman President of INC was Annie Besant. | |||
| • First woman to become the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. | |||
| • Her famous poetries include - The Golden Threshold (1905), The Feather of the Dawn; The Bird of Time (1912) and The Broken Wing (1917). | |||
| 2 | Sucheta Kripalani | • From Ambala, Punjab |  |
| • Key role in Quit India Movement (1942) | |||
| • Worked closely with Gandhiji during Partition riots and assisted in peacebuilding efforts in Noakhali (now Bangladesh). | |||
| • Actively contributed in drafting the Indian Constitution, especially issues concerning women’s rights and labor welfare. | |||
| • First woman Chief Minister of India (CM of Uttar Pradesh) | |||
| 3 | Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit | • From Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Daughter of Motilal Nehru, sister of Jawaharlal Nehru. |  |
| • Imprisoned thrice by the British for her involvement in Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement. | |||
| • First Woman Cabinet Minister in Pre-Independent India (1946). | |||
| • First Woman President of the UN General Assembly (1953). | |||
| • Championed women’s rights and promoted India’s role as a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement. | |||
| 4 | Rajkumari Amrit Kaur | • From Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |  |
| • Actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha (1930) and the Quit India Movement (1942). | |||
| • Co-founded the All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) in 1927: To promote women's education and rights. | |||
| • First woman cabinet minister in independent India (portfolio: Health) | |||
| • Instrumental in establishing institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) | |||
| 5 | Ammu Swaminathan | • From Palakkad, Kerala. |  |
| • Strongly opposed the rules imposed on widows, such as shaving the head and renouncing jewellery. | |||
| • In the Constituent Assembly, she spoke about the Hindu Code Bill and gender equality. | |||
| 6 | Annie Mascarene | • From Travancore, Kerala |  |
| • Joined Travancore State Congress, advocating for a government based on universal adult franchise. | |||
| • In the Constituent Assembly, she advocated the need for a strong Centre, while simultaneously emphasising the autonomy of local governments. | |||
| 7 | Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul | • From Punjab |  |
| • Joined the Muslim League, campaigning for causes linked to women. | |||
| • Opposed separate electorates based on religion. | |||
| 8 | Dakshayani Velayudhan | • From Kochi, Kerala |  |
| • Belonged to the Pulaya community, considered a “slave”. | |||
| • Social reformer and active participant in the Dalit movement. | |||
| Disagreed with Dr. Ambedkar on the need for separate electorates for Dalits, saying the provision highlighted differences and was against nationalism. | |||
| 9 | Renuka Ray | • From Pabna, present-day Bangladesh |  |
| • Activism for women’s issues, such as the rights to divorce and inheritance & active participation in the freedom struggle. | |||
| • In the Constituent Assembly, she discussed issues like the Hindu Code Bill and opposed women’s reservation in legislatures. |