resolution at the Karachi session of the died of famine and epidemics. The country The Indian Constitution Indian National Congress dwelt on how 13 was dependent upon foreign nations even independent India’s Constitution should CHAPTER for its basic needs like foodgrains. It was look like. Both these documents were necessary therefore to set out the vision committed to universal adult franchise, For centuries different parts of our would you arrive at those five goals? of the future society and give a framework right to freedom and equality. country were under the rule of kings and Discuss in the class and work with for achieving it. queens. However, when our leaders fought the help of your teacher. Can you list some of the inequalities against the British colonial rule, they Find out from your grandparents or and discriminations prevalent in our wanted the future government of India to old neighbours who were there at the society at the time of Independence? be democratic and not monarchic. They Making of the Indian Constitution time of independence about how Here is a set of statements that is put wanted India to be ruled by the people The Indian Constitution was drafted things were at that time and what they in pairs, but some of it has wrong themselves with the help of elected under very difficult circumstances. The felt about the future of the country. information. Can you correct them? representatives. country had been controlled by Britain for There were sharp differences of a) A model constitution was drafted + Discuss why the leaders who fought about 200 years and its institutions had been opinion among the leaders of the national Motilal Nehru for freedom did not want India to be made to suit them. The country had just movement, about how we could make a b) Leaders agreed that illiterate people ruled by kings and queens. been partitioned due to communal better society after Independence. Yet most should not vote + universal adult When India gained its freedom from conflicts. A large part of the country was leaders agreed that independent India would franchise be governed according to the principles of colonial rule it was decided to put ruled by Princely states (like the c) Provincial legislature + Constitution democracy in which: together basic principles for Nizam of Hyderabad). Apart from adopted some colonial laws which we stood and principles and i. every one would be equal before social and cultural diversity, there d) Partition + large number of people procedures by which our country law and will have certain fundamental rights were huge differences between were killed and forced to migrate would be ruled. These were written guaranteed to them, rich and poor, upper and lower down in a book called the ii. the government would be built by e) Restriction on women voting + ‘Constitution of India’. castes, men and women. The leaders general elections based on the principles commitment to social reform in A Constitution is a set of rules were concerned about keeping the of ‘universal adult franchise’ or right of India about how the country should be country together and not allowing every adult citizen irrespective of gender, governed – how the laws that run it to break up further. This meant caste, religion, education, or wealth to vote it would be made or changed, how that all the diverse people should in elections. the government should be feel that they have an effective Early Drafts of Constitution formed, what would be the role role in the running of the country. Our of the citizens, what would be their rights, Even before independence in 1928, national movement was not merely a etc. Above all the Constitution sets before Motilal Nehru and eight other Indian struggle against the foreign rule. It also the country the goals for which the country National Congress leaders drafted a has to strive. sought to end inequalities, exploitation and Constitution for India. In 1931, the discriminations in our society. Literacy If you and your classmates were levels and education were very low. There asked to formulate five goals for the Fig 13.1: India celebrates Republic Day on 26 th January every year. This country – what would they be? How was acute poverty, and lakhs of people had is a photograph of NCC cadets marching as part of the celebrations. 150 Political Systems and Governance The Indian Constitution Free distribution by A.P. Government 151 economic equality. All these factors influenced the making of our Constitution. Thirdly, the British too had introduced some basic institutions of democratic rule in India. However, only Sarojini Naidu Durgabai Deshmukh N.G. Ranga T. Prakasam certain categories of people could vote in the the Constitution on 26 November 1949 but First, some basic principles were elections. British had it came into effect from 26 January 1950. decided and agreed upon: that India will be introduced very weak To mark this day we celebrate January 26 a Sovereign Republic; that it will have legislatures. Elections as Republic Day every year. within it several states with autonomous were held in 1937 to The members of the Constituent powers; that it will be democratic; that it Assembly were elected mainly by the will secure to all citizens justice, equality Fig 13.2: The President of the Constituent Provincial Legislatures members of the existing provincial and freedom; that the interests of Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and the and Ministries all over British India. These Chairman of the Drafting Committee, legislatures formed during the British rule. minorities, tribes and depressed classes were not fully democratic governments. But Dr. B. R. Ambedkar greeting each other. Some of the members were nominated by will be safeguarded; and that India will work the experience gained by Indians in the the kings ruling over some parts of the for world peace and welfare of all mankind. What were the sources of inspiration working of the legislative institutions country. Its members came from all the This is called the ‘Objectives Resolution’ and ideas for framing our Constitution? proved to be very useful for the country in regions of the country. The Assembly was and it was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru the setting up its own institutions and working First of all, they were inspired by the dominated by the members of the Indian first Prime Minister of India. These became in them. That is why the Indian Constitution struggle waged by the diverse kinds of National Congress party and there were very the guiding principles for drafting the adopted many institutional details and Indian people and their aspiration for a few members of other parties like Dr. B. Constitution. procedures from colonial laws. better world to live in. They knew that it R. Ambedkar. Even though most members Then a Drafting Committee chaired by was their sacred duty to help build an India The Constituent Assembly were from the same party, most of them Dr. B. R. Ambedkar prepared a draft in which all these diverse kinds of people The Constitution was drafted by an held very different views on most issues. Constitution for discussion. Several rounds may realise their aspirations. They were assembly of elected representatives called There were very few women, just about of thorough discussion took place on the also deeply influenced by the thoughts of the Constituent Assembly. Elections to the fifteen. Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh was one Draft Constitution, clause by clause. There Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders. Constituent Assembly were held in July of them. were intense debates on all important Secondly, many of our leaders were 1946. Its first meeting was held in Why do you think the kings were provisions were examined from different inspired by the ideals of French Revolution, December 1946. With the partition of the allowed to nominate members to the points of view and finally decisions were the practice of parliamentary democracy in country in August 1947, the Constituent Constitutent Assembly? taken by majority vote. More than two thousand amendments to the Draft Britain and the Bill of Rights in the USA. Assembly was also divided into the Why do you think there were so few Constitution were considered. The The socialist revolution in Russia and China Constituent Assembly of India and that of women members? Do you think it members deliberated for 114 days spread had inspired many Indians to think of Pakistan. The Indian Constituent Assembly would have been better if there had over three years. Every word spoken in the shaping a system based on social and had 299 members. The Assembly adopted been more women members? 152 Political Systems and Governance The Indian Constitution Free distribution by A.P. Government 153 of the Constitution: Mahatma value. In our social and economic life, we shall, its basic principles and objectives. They Gandhi. He was not a member by reason of our social and economic structure, guide all the provisions of Indian of the Constituent Assembly. continue to deny the principle of one man one Constitution. value. How long shall we continue to live this Yet there were many members life of contradictions? How long shall we Let us read the preamble of our who followed his vision. continue to deny equality in our social and Constitution very carefully and understand Writing in the magazine Young economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, the meaning of each of its key words. Think India in 1931, he had spelt out we will do so only by putting our political of some example in the context of each what he wanted the Constitution democracy in peril. terms mentioned here.