India’s Constitution did not emerge from a single vision or personality. Instead, it took shape through intense debate, careful drafting, and lived experience. While a few names dominate public memory, many contributors played decisive roles behind the scenes. Their work shaped rights, freedoms, and governance, yet history rarely highlights them. Understanding their contributions helps us see the Constitution not as a monument, but as a living democratic document.
India’s Constitution is commonly associated with a small set of iconic figures. However, it was the outcome of sustained intellectual, administrative, and political labour by many contributors whose work remains under-acknowledged. Below are several lesser-known but substantively important contributors, the roles they played, and why their contributions are often overlooked.
B. N. Rau
Role and contribution
- Served as the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly (1946–1948).
- Prepared the initial draft framework of the Constitution.
- Studied constitutions across the world (U.S., Canada, Ireland, Australia) and consulted international jurists, including U.S. Supreme Court judges.
- His comparative approach shaped federalism, emergency provisions, and fundamental rights.
Why overlooked
- He was a civil servant, not an elected representative.
- His work was technical and preparatory rather than rhetorical or political.
- Public memory often privileges Assembly debates over behind-the-scenes drafting.
The Silent Hand Behind the First Draft
B. N. Rau played a foundational role long before the Drafting Committee began its work. As Constitutional Adviser, he prepared the first structural draft of the Constitution. He studied global constitutions and adapted them to Indian realities. Because of this, ideas like judicial review, emergency provisions, and federal balance found early clarity. Yet, his position as a civil servant kept him away from political limelight. As a result, public narratives often bypass his influence.
Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
Role and contribution
- A senior jurist and key member of the Drafting Committee.
- Played a decisive role in shaping Fundamental Rights and the legal language of the Constitution.
- Advocated for judicial review and constitutional supremacy.
Why overlooked
- His interventions were legalistic rather than populist.
- Overshadowed by the committee chairperson, who became the symbolic face of the Constitution.
The Jurist Who Shaped Legal Precision
Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar ensured that constitutional ideals stood on firm legal ground. He refined the language of Fundamental Rights and defended judicial independence. His arguments focused on long-term constitutional stability rather than immediate popularity. Since legal craftsmanship attracts less attention than political speeches, his role faded from mainstream memory despite its lasting impact.
K. M. Munshi
Role and contribution
- Influential in drafting Fundamental Rights, particularly freedom of religion.
- Championed the idea of a Uniform Civil Code (Article 44).
- Bridged constitutional values with cultural and civilisational concerns.
Why overlooked
- Remembered more for cultural institutions and literary work than constitutional drafting.
- His ideas were sometimes controversial, leading to selective remembrance.
The Voice Linking Culture and Constitutional Values
K. M. Munshi brought cultural depth into constitutional debates. He actively shaped provisions on religious freedom and argued for a Uniform Civil Code as a future goal. He believed the Constitution should unite diverse traditions under common civic principles. However, later controversies around these ideas led to selective remembrance of his work.
Dakshayani Velayudhan
Role and contribution
- The only Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly.
- Strongly opposed separate electorates, arguing instead for substantive equality and dignity.
- Brought lived experience of caste and gender discrimination into constitutional debates.
Why overlooked
- Marginalisation along both caste and gender lines.
- Her contributions challenged dominant elite narratives and were not institutionally amplified.
A Dalit Woman Who Spoke of Dignity, Not Charity
Dakshayani Velayudhan offered a perspective rooted in lived injustice. As the only Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly, she rejected symbolic safeguards and demanded real equality. She opposed separate electorates because she feared they would reinforce exclusion. Her insistence on dignity over tokenism challenged dominant narratives. Unfortunately, caste and gender biases pushed her voice to the margins of history.
Hansa Mehta
Role and contribution
- Instrumental in ensuring gender-neutral language in Fundamental Rights.
- Advocated for equality in marriage, inheritance, and employment.
- Later represented India at the United Nations and influenced global human rights discourse.
Why overlooked
- Women’s constitutional contributions are often subsumed under broader nationalist histories.
- Public focus tends to remain on a small number of male leaders.
The Woman Who Made Equality Gender-Neutral
Hansa Mehta ensured that equality did not remain a male privilege. She fought for gender-neutral language in Fundamental Rights. Her interventions changed how the Constitution viewed women as citizens, not dependents. Despite this, national memory often reduces women leaders to social reform alone, overlooking their constitutional influence.
Shibban Lal Saksena
Role and contribution
- Vocal advocate for civil liberties, freedom of expression, and limits on preventive detention.
- Represented socialist and civil-libertarian concerns within the Assembly.
Why overlooked
- Many of his warnings were ignored or diluted.
- Dissenting voices are less likely to be memorialised than consensus builders.
The Dissenter Who Warned the Republic
Shibban Lal Saksena raised strong concerns about civil liberties. He warned against excessive preventive detention and limits on free speech. While many of his objections did not prevail, later constitutional debates proved his concerns valid. Since dissent rarely earns celebration, his contributions remained under-acknowledged.
Why These Contributions Remain Overlooked
First, history prefers simple stories with a few heroic figures. Second, technical and legal work lacks dramatic appeal. Third, voices from marginalised communities received less institutional support. Finally, post-Independence politics reshaped which constitutional ideas gained prominence. Together, these factors narrowed public memory.
Why Remembering Them Matters Today
These lesser-known contributors remind us that the Constitution grew from debate, disagreement, and collective wisdom. Their ideas continue to influence court judgments, civil rights movements, and democratic practice. By remembering them, we honour the Constitution as a shared national effort, not the legacy of a few individuals.
Closing Thought
The strength of India’s Constitution lies in its diversity of thought. When we recover forgotten voices, we do more than correct history. We deepen our understanding of democracy itself.
