This is part of a series of articles on The Constitution of India and The Constituent Assembly that Mr. N. Panchaksaramoorthy has consented to write in our Website for the benefit of today’s generation. Extracts of Begum Aizaz Rasool speech.

On 8th November 1948, in the Constituent Assembly, Begum Aizaz Rasool, United Provinces, spoke as follows:–

“Sir, I feel it is a great principles to be associated in the framing of the Constitution. I am aware of the solemnity of the occasion. After 2 centuries of slavery, India has emerged from the darkness of bondage into the light of freedom. And, today, on this historic occasion, we are gathered to draw the Constitution for free India, which will give shape to our future destiny and carved out the Social, Political and Economic  status of the three hundred  million  people  living  in this  vast  sub-continent. We should  therefore  be fully  aware  of our  responsibility  and  set  to  this  task  with  the point  of view  of  how West to evolve  a system  best  suited  to the  deeds, requirements, culture, and genius  of the people  living  here.”

The  learned  Begum  further continues, as  follows:-

“Sir, as  a woman, I have  very  brave  satisfaction  in the fact  that no discrimination  will be made on the  account  of  Sex. It  is  in  the  fitness  of that  such  a provision  should  have  been  made  in  the  draft Constitution, and  I am  sure  women  can  look  forward  equality  of opportunity  under  the  new  Constitution….”

The present generation would learn much from the views expressed by the Honorable Begum.