On Friday, December 13, 2024, during the Winter session of the Parliament in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks at a discussion in the Lok Sabha about the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.
When talking about the Indian Constitution, the defence minister mentioned a book named 'Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic: Gender Politics of the Framing of the Constitution' that highlights the life stories of the lesser credited founding mothers who paid great tributes to establishing the Indian Constitution. Keep reading to know everything about this book.
Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic book | Image: Amazon
Achyut Chetan’s 'Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic' is a book that highlights the vital yet overlooked role of the eleven women members of India’s Constituent Assembly in shaping the nation’s Constitution. The book challenges the dominance of the phrase "founding fathers" and emphasises how these women co-authored a Constitution rooted in feminist ideals and equality, shaped by their years of activism and moral imagination.
Importance of "founding mothers"
Chetan traces the origins of key constitutional provisions to the interventions of these women, arguing that their contributions enriched the document with rights and progressive statecraft. Mentioning their work within the larger framework of Indian feminism, nationalist discourse, and the global human rights movements of the 1940s, the book demonstrates how these women were much more than symbolic "founding mothers."
The author delves deep into lesser-known records, including committee work, amendments, notes of dissent, and personal correspondence, to present a thorough account of their efforts. Figures such as Hansa Mehta, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, and Dakshayani Velayudhan emerged as pioneers who shaped India’s democratic framework with their unique perspectives on gender and justice.
This meticulously researched book has been praised by scholars like Geraldine Forbes and Sudipta Kaviraj for filling a critical gap in constitutional history. It reframes the making of the Indian Constitution as not just a male-dominated endeavour but a collaborative effort where women’s voices played an essential role.
Founding Mothers is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of the Indian Constitution, women’s movements, and the evolution of feminist thought in India. It reclaims the legacy of these remarkable women and underscores their profound impact on shaping modern India.
