Framing the ConstitutionClass 12 History Case Study Questions

On 13 December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the "Objectives Resolution" in the Constituent Assembly. It was a momentous resolution that outlined the defining ideals of the Constitution of Independent India, and provided the framework within which the work of constitution-making was to proceed. It proclaimed India to be an "Independent Sovereign Republic", guaranteed its citizens justice, equality and freedom, and assured that "adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and Depressed and Other Backward Classes ..." Nehru explained why the word 'democratic' was not used: "...it is conceivable, of course, that a republic may not be democratic but the whole of our past is witness to this fact that we stand for democratic institutions. Obviously we are aiming at democracy and nothing less than a democracy... we have not used the word 'democratic' because we thought it is obvious that the word 'republic' contains that word and we did not want to use unnecessary words and redundant words, but we have done something much more than using the word. We have given the content of democracy in this Resolution and not only the content of democracy but the content, if I may say so, of economic democracy..."

On 27 August 1947, B. Pocker Bahadur from Madras made a powerful plea for continuing separate electorates. He argued that it was the only way to ensure minorities had a meaningful voice. This demand provoked anger and dismay amongst most nationalists. Most saw separate electorates as a measure deliberately introduced by the British to divide the people. Partition had made nationalists fervently opposed to the idea. They were haunted by the fear of continued civil war, riots and violence. Separate electorates was a 'poison that has entered the body politic of our country', declared Sardar Patel. It was a demand that had turned one community against another, divided the nation, caused bloodshed, and led to the tragic partition of the country. 'Do you want peace in this land? If so do away with it (separate electorates),' urged Patel. Countering the demand, Govind Ballabh Pant declared that it was not only harmful for the nation but also for the minorities, as it was a 'suicidal demand' that would permanently isolate them and deprive them of any effective say within the government.

A Communist member, Somnath Lahiri saw the dark hand of British imperialism hanging over the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. He thus urged the members, and Indians in general, to fully free themselves from the influences of imperial rule. In the winter of 1946-47, as the Assembly deliberated, the British were still in India. An interim administration headed by Jawaharlal Nehru was in place, but it could only operate under the directions of the Viceroy and the British Government in London. Lahiri exhorted his colleagues to realise that the Constituent Assembly was British-made and was 'working the British plans as the British should like it to be worked out'. Nehru admitted that most nationalist leaders had wanted a different kind of Constituent Assembly and that the British Government had a 'hand in its birth'. 'But,' emphasised Nehru, 'you must not ignore the source from which this Assembly derives its strength.' He added: 'Governments do not come into being by State Papers. Governments are, in fact the expression of the will of the people. We have met here today because of the strength of the people behind us and we shall go as far as the people... shall wish us to go.'