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On Constitution Day (November 26), President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the contributions of women in India’s Constituent Assembly.

The 299-member body included 15 women (two later resigned), representing diverse regions and perspectives. Prominent figures like Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kripalani, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit were joined by lesser-known women who actively engaged in debates on critical issues such as gender, caste, and reservations.

This article highlights the contributions of five of these women.

What’s in today’s article?

• Ammu Swaminathan (1894-1978)
• Annie Mascarene (1902-1963)
• Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul (1909-2001)
• Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912-1978)
• Renuka Ray (1904-1997)

Ammu Swaminathan: A Pioneering Voice for Women in the Constituent Assembly

• Swaminathan, from Palakkad, Kerala, married Subbarama Swaminathan in her teens, setting conditions like independence in daily life. Among her children was Captain Lakshmi Sahgal of the Indian National Army.
• Her political interest stemmed from opposing restrictive widowhood practices she witnessed her mother endure.
• Swaminathan contested elections on a Congress ticket and, as a member of the Constituent Assembly, advocated for the Hindu Code Bill and gender equality, despite resistance from the male-dominated House.
• Post-independence, she was elected from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, and served as India’s goodwill ambassador to countries like Russia, China, and the US.

Annie Mascarene: Advocate for Universal Franchise and Local Autonomy

• Annie Mascarene (1902–1963) was born into a Latin Christian family in Travancore, considered the lowest caste tier.
• Despite societal barriers, she excelled academically, studied law, and became an educator.
• Influenced by caste and gender reforms initiated by Travancore royals, she became politically active during the region's upheaval.
• Mascarene joined the All Travancore Joint Political Congress and later the Travancore State Congress, championing universal adult franchise and enduring violence from opponents.
• As a member of the Constituent Assembly, she advocated for a strong Centre while supporting local government autonomy.
• After leaving the Congress due to state factionalism, she won as an independent candidate from Thiruvananthapuram in 1952, marking a significant achievement in Indian politics.

Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul: A Trailblazing Woman in Politics

• Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul (1909–2001), born into Punjab's royal family, pursued formal education despite opposition, including a fatwa against her convent schooling.
• After marrying Nawab Aizaz Rasul, she discarded the purdah and entered politics, winning a non-reserved seat in 1936 despite conservative criticism.
• As a member of the Muslim League, she campaigned for women’s issues and opposed separate electorates based on religion.
• While initially seeing potential benefits for Muslims in the idea of Pakistan, she ultimately chose to stay in India, concerned for poor Muslims left behind post-Partition.
• She later joined the Congress, served in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 1952, and contributed to promoting women’s hockey in India.

Dakshayani Velayudhan: A Pioneer for Dalit Rights and Equality

• Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978) achieved multiple milestones as the first Dalit woman to graduate in science in Cochin and serve in the Cochin Legislative Council.
• Belonging to the Pulaya community, considered "slaves" at the time, she defied caste barriers, enduring discrimination, such as being excluded from practical experiments in college.
• After working as a teacher, she married a social worker in a simple wedding officiated by a leprosy-afflicted person in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba.
• Elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, she opposed Ambedkar's call for separate electorates, arguing it promoted division and hindered nationalism.
• Financial struggles prevented her from pursuing a sustained political career, although she remained active in the Dalit movement.
• She returned to politics in 1971 but finished fourth in the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate.

Renuka Ray: A Trailblazer for Women’s Rights

• Renuka Ray (1904–1997), born in Pabna (now in Bangladesh), hailed from a distinguished family.
• Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, she left college to join the freedom struggle, raising awareness through grassroots efforts and briefly staying at Sabarmati Ashram.
• She later pursued studies at the London School of Economics, where she met her future husband, Satyendra Nath Ray.
• After returning to India, Ray championed women’s rights, focusing on divorce and inheritance laws.
• Representing women’s organisations in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1943, she joined the Constituent Assembly in 1946.
• She supported the Hindu Code Bill but opposed reserved seats for women in legislatures, viewing it as a hindrance to their progress.
• Although she lost the 1952 general election from Hooghly, she won in 1957 and contributed to governance in Bengal before returning to social work.
• Her life reflected her commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and social justice.