Vol. 13 · pages 36–40

SECTION ONE December 9, 1946 to July 31, 1947

Resolution regarding Aims and Objects [After the end of the second world war in 1945, the question of India’s freedom assumed priority. The British Government sent threemen delegation to India to suggest the ways and means for the smooth transfer of power. This delegation, called Cabinet Mission, announced on 16 March 1946 its proposals in which, it was suggested that a Constituent Assembly be set up to frame a Constitution for the future governance of India. Accordingly elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in which members were elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. Dr. Ambedkar, having failed to get elected from Bombay due to Congress opposition, managed to enter the Constituent Assembly through the Bengal Assembly with the support of Jogendranath Mandal and other Scheduled Caste members. The Constituent Assembly started its work of framing free India’s Constitution on 9th December 1946. In all 296 members were entitled to take part in the inaugural session. But only 207 attended, the absentees were mainly the Muslim League members who had boycotted the Constituent Assembly. ] The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly of India commenced in the Constitution Hall, New Delhi on Monday, the 9th December 1946, at Eleven of the Clock. Acharya J. B. Kripalani requested Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha to take the chair as temporary Chairman. The Chairman gave an inaugural address to the House. This was followed by nomination of Shri Frank Anthony as the Deputy Chairman. The members then presented the credentials and signed their names in the register. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar signed as a member from Bengal. The Assembly passed the rules for the election of the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly on 10th December 1946. The Assembly thereafter elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as permanent Chairman of the Assembly on 11th December 1946.

6 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES On 13th December 1946, the Hon’ble Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the resolution regarding Aims and Objects as under:— “*(1) This Constituent Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve to proclaim India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and to draw up for her future governance a Constitution; (2) WHEREIN the territories that now comprise British India, the territories that now form the Indian States, and such other parts of India as are outside British India and the States as well as such other territories as are willing to be constituted into the Independent Sovereign India, shall be a Union of them all; and (3) WHEREIN the said territories, whether with their present boundaries or with such others as may be determined by the Constituent Assembly and thereafter according to the Law of the Constitution, shall possess and retain the status of autonomous Units, together with residuary powers, and exercise all powers and functions of government and administration, save and except such powers and functions as are vested in or assigned to the Union, or as are inherent or implied in the Union or resulting therefrom ; and (4) WHEREIN all power and authority of the Sovereign Independent India, its constituent parts and organs of government, are derived from the people ; and (5) WHEREIN shall be guaranteed and secured to all the people of India justice, social, economic and political; equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law ; freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality ; and (6) WHEREIN adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes ; and (7) WHEREBY shall be maintained the integrity of the territory of the Republic and its sovereign rights on land, sea, and air according to justice and the law of civilised nations, and (8) This ancient land attains its rightful and honoured place in the world and make its full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace and the welfare of mankind.” [This was followed by speeches by Pandit Nehru, Purushottam Das Tandon and the Chairman, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Assembly then adjourned till 16th December 1946.—Ed] ***** [Dr. M. R. Jayakar, moved his amendment to the above resolution on 16th December 1946 .—Ed.] †The Right Hon’ble Dr. M. R. Jayakar (Bombay General): Well, I will read the amendment. I wanted to save your time by a few minutes. This is the amendment: “This Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve that the Constitution to be prepared by this Assembly for the future governance of India shall be for a *Constituent Assembly Debates (Hereinafter called CAD.), Vol 1, 13th December 1946, p. 59. †CAD, Vol. I, 16th December 1946, p. 73.

7RESOLUTION REGARDING AIMS AND OBJECTS free and democratic Sovereign State ; but with a view to securing, in the shaping of such a constitution, the co-operation of the Muslim League and the Indian States, and thereby intensifying the firmness of this resolve, this Assembly postpones the further consideration of this question to a later date, to enable the representatives of these two bodies to participate, if they so choose, in the deliberations of this Assembly.” In substance, my amendment means that the further consideration of this Resolution should be postponed to a later stage,—the stage of Union constitution-making at which, I take it, the Indian States and the Muslim League are expected to be present…….. [Dr. M. R. Jayakar objected to the timing of the resolution. He moved an amendment, seeking postponement of the passing of the resolution, as he wanted the Muslim League to join the task of laying down the fundamentals of the Constitution. This resolution created a tense atmosphere in the House. Amidst this tense situation Dr. Ambedkar was invited by the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad unexpectedly to have his say on 17th December 1946. When Dr. Ambedkar started, the House was all attention. Dr. Dhananjay Keer writes, “ Everybody thought that Dr. Ambedkar by playing such dangerous role would go under with the mover of the amendment to rise against the will and the objections of the Congress bosses, who were the nation’s most powerful leaders, was to meet one’s Waterloo. The Congress members were ready with their hands raised to cripple their avowed enemy and throw him down". This historic speech changed the course of Dr. Ambedkar’s political career. The speech drew the longest and the most vociferous applause. As Mr. N. V. Gadgil, an eye-witness to this event observed “His speech was so statesmanlike, so devoid of bitterness and so earnestly challenging that the whole of Assembly listened to it in rapt silence. The speech was greeted with tremendous ovation and he was smothered with congratulations in the lobby”. The speech had its ultimate effect and the Constituent Assembly postponed the considertion of the objective resolution till the next session. The said speech of Dr. Ambedkar is as under.—Ed.] *Mr. Chairman : Dr. Ambedkar. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (Bengal : General) : Mr. Chairman, I am indeed very grateful to you for having called me to speak on the Resolution. I must however confess that your invitation has come to me as a surprise. I thought that as there were some 20 or 22 people ahead of me, my turn, if it did come at all, would come tomorrow. *CAD, Vol. I, 17th December 1946, pp. 99-103.