THE FIFTEEN: THE LIVES AND TIMES OF THE WOMEN IN INDIA’S CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

By Angellica Aribam and Akash Satyawali

Hachette, Rs 799

The monumental task of framing India’s Constitution is a subject that has been explored extensively. However, what often gets sidelined in the narrative of nation-building is the role of women, particularly those who were part of the Constituent Assembly. This book by Angellica Aribam and Akash Satyawali fills this gap with a refreshing lens, offering an in-depth look at the lives, contributions, and legacies of the fifteen women who shaped the foundational document of the Indian Republic.

The Fifteen is a vital and timely exploration of the inspiring lives of women whose names are known but whose stories remain largely untold. Although these women made up only 5% of the Constituent Assembly, their contributions imbued the Indian Constitution with its ambition and idealism. While the narratives on figures like Sarojini Naidu, Durgabai Deshmukh, Sucheta Kripalani and Ammu Swaminathan are relatively well-known, others, such as those of Kamala Chaudhri, Leela Roy, Hansa Mehta, Renuka Ray, Purnima Banerji, and Malati Choudhury, have been consigned to history as mere names.

Aribam and Satyawali embark on a path of meticulous research through various sources to reconstruct the lives of these women. They recognise the immense responsibility of not only documenting the achievements of these fifteen women but also contextualising their contributions in terms of Indian democracy and the principles that shaped the modern Indian State. These women were far from homogeneous, each possessing distinct ideologies and often challenging prominent figures like M.K. Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others who had to be sensitised as allies and confronted on their biases. They defied the status quo not just by existing but by enduring mockery and ridicule to herald the birth of modern India. Though many of them came from privileged caste and class backgrounds — Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur were of royal descent while Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was political royalty — they also mirrored the diverse realities of “multiple Indias”. Two of these women, Annie Mascarene and Dakshayani Velayudhan, came from marginalised communities, offering a glimpse of the broader societal spectrum.

The book seeks to correct the historical record, ensuring that these 5% are remembered not just as names but as fully-realised individuals from whom we can learn. It will resonate with young girls and women growing up in an increasingly unpredictable and hostile world wherein standing firm against conformity and heteronormativity can be isolating and traumatic experiences, especially for those without adequate support systems.

These women undeniably laid the foundation upon which the women of India stand today. With wills of iron, they were trailblazers who ensured that future generations would not have to face the same challenges posed by orthodox systems that denied women education, property rights, franchise, and rightful inheritance. These women were ahead of their time even by today’s standards; one can only imagine how far they had deviated from the conservative norms of their era — a century ago — in a vastly different ecosystem.

The Fifteen offers a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of women in the making of the modern republic. It is not just a tribute to these remarkable women but a call to recognise and continue their legacy in a world still grappling with the issues they so valiantly fought against.