Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Notable Women in the Constituent Assembly
Why in the News?
On Constitution Day (November 26), President Murmu acknowledged the significant role of women members in the Constituent Assembly of India.
5 Notable Women in the Constituent Assembly
| Name | Their Contributions |
| Ammu Swaminathan (1894-1978) | • Co-founded the Women’s India Association in 1917 with leaders like Annie Besant. • Advocated for women’s education and rights. • Spoke on the Hindu Code Bill and gender equality in the Constituent Assembly. • Became the first woman elected to the Madras legislature. • After independence, served as India’s goodwill ambassador to countries like Russia, China, and the US. |
| Annie Mascarene (1902-1963) | • Born in Travancore to a Latin Christian family considered at the bottom of the caste system. • Advocated for universal adult franchise and against caste-based voting rights. • Joined the Travancore State Congress and fought for political representation of marginalized communities. • As a member of the Constituent Assembly, called for a strong Centre and autonomy for local governments. • Elected as an independent candidate in 1952 from Thiruvananthapuram. |
| Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul (1909-2001) | • Hailing from a prominent family in Punjab, she faced resistance for her education, with a fatwa issued against her convent schooling. • Fought for women’s rights and opposed separate electorates based on religion. • Stayed in India post-partition and joined the Indian National Congress. • Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952. • Helped promote women’s hockey in India. |
| Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912-1978) | • First Dalit woman to graduate in science and the first Dalit woman in the Cochin Legislative Council. • Advocated for nationalism and opposed separate electorates for Dalits. • Strongly committed to social justice despite facing discrimination. • After independence, remained involved in the Dalit movement and continued advocating for social justice. |
| Renuka Ray (1904-1997) | • Came from an affluent family with a civil servant father and a progressive mother. • Joined the freedom struggle after meeting Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. • Advocated for women’s rights, particularly on divorce and inheritance. • Represented women’s organizations in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1943. • Opposed women’s reservation in legislatures, seeing it as a hindrance to women’s growth. • After losing the 1952 elections, returned to politics and worked on women’s empowerment. |
| PYQ:
[2011] With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for: (a) Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement |
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