History · Ch 12 — Framing the Constitution — The Beginning of a New Era
The dominant voices
The dominant voices
The Constituent Assembly had 300 members, but six individuals played particularly important roles in shaping the Constitution. Three of them were prominent Congress leaders: Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Rajendra Prasad. The other three were B.R. Ambedkar, K.M. Munshi, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar. Two civil servants, B.N. Rau and S.N. Mukherjee, provided vital assistance behind the scenes.
Jawaharlal Nehru moved the crucial “Objectives Resolution,” which laid down the guiding principles and philosophy of the Constitution. He also moved the resolution proposing that the National Flag of India be a “horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and dark green in equal proportion,” with a wheel in navy blue at the centre.
Vallabhbhai Patel worked mostly behind the scenes. He played a key role in drafting several reports and worked to reconcile opposing points of view among members.
Rajendra Prasad served as the President of the Assembly. His role was to steer the discussion along constructive lines while making sure all members had a chance to speak.
B.R. Ambedkar was a lawyer and economist. During British rule, he had been a political opponent of the Congress. On the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, he was asked at Independence to join the Union Cabinet as Law Minister. In this capacity, he served as Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
K.M. Munshi from Gujarat and Alladi Krishnaswamy Aiyar from Madras were both lawyers who served with Ambedkar on the Drafting Committee. They gave crucial inputs in the drafting of the Constitution. …
"A tryst with destiny". At the midnight session of 14 August 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous speech to the Constituent Assembly, which began:
Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. …
Important Committees of the Constituent Assembly and their Presidents.
| Committee | President |
|---|---|
| Rules of Procedure Committee | Rajendra Prasad |
| Union Power Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Union Constitution Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Provincial Constitution Committee | Vallabhbhai Patel |
| Steering Committee | Rajendra Prasad |
| Drafting Committee | B. R. Ambedkar |
| Flag Committee | J. B. Kripalani |
| States Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Advisory Committee | Vallabhbhai Patel |
| Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee | J. B. Kripalani |
| Minorities Sub-Committee | H. C. Mookerjee |
This photograph captures a moment during one of the sessions of the Constituent Assembly. The setting is the central hall of the old Parliament building in New Delhi, where the Assembly met for nearly three years. You can see rows of wooden desks arranged in a semicircle, with members seated in chairs, some leaning forward to listen, others taking notes. The high ceiling and arched windows give the hall a formal, dignified atmosphere.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is seated second from the right in the front row. He is dressed in a simple white kurta and dhoti, with a cap — the same attire he wore throughout his public life. His posture is relaxed but attentive, hands resting on the table before him. Around him sit other prominent members, though the caption does not name them individually. The photograph shows the Assembly in the middle of its work: papers are spread on desks, and some members are looking toward the speaker, who is not visible in the frame. …
The photograph shows B. R. Ambedkar seated at the head of a long table, presiding over a discussion of the Hindu Code Bill. He is dressed in a Western suit, with papers and a microphone in front of him. Around the table sit several other men, likely members of the drafting committee or legal experts, some of whom are also looking at documents. The setting appears to be a formal committee room, with windows and a clock visible on the wall behind. The image captures Ambedkar in his capacity as Law Minister, a role in which he not only chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution but also championed the Hindu Code Bill — a set of laws aimed at reforming Hindu personal law, including rights related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. …