Few consider the role of women in drafting the constitution, with the focus often on the male "founding fathers" of India. A Supreme Court bench noted the oversight, pointing out that traditional narratives have marginalized women s contributions during the Constituent Assembly debates. . The term "founding mothers," cited by Justice Chandrachud in 2018, recognizing the crucial role women played in shaping India s Constitution.
This year’s Gombe Habba (a traditional doll display) in Bengaluru by the Reclaim Constitution is one such moment. The infusion of constitutional values into this age-old festival aims to bridge gaps in people’s grasp of constitutional values as well as foster a sense of collective purpose.
On September 19, 2023, the One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to reserve 33 percent of all seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. Although historic, the implementation of the law is viewed from different perspectives, sparking a debate about the efficacy of the Women's Reservation Bill.
The political journey that took place in the old Parliament created fractured citizenship by legitimising and institutionalising concepts of religious majority and minority. This was a negation of secularism, which Hindus practised since time immemorial
The women of this country have waited for 27 years to see this Bill enacted. Even though the current Bill is far from perfect, we can’t afford to wait another two decades