[The Cabinet Mission had recommended the setting up of an advisory committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities etc. Accordingly, the assembly constituted the Advisory Committee under the Chairmanship of Sardar Patel by a resolution on 24th January 1947. The Committee consisted of 50 members in which Dr. Ambedkar was one. To facilitate its work, the Advisory Committee appointed the following four subcommittees.
1. Fundamental Rights sub-committee.
2. Minorities sub-committee.
3. North-East Frontier Tribal Areas sub-committee.
4. Excluded and partially excluded areas (other than those in Assam) sub-committee.
Dr. Ambedkar was a member of the first two sub-committees and took keen interest in their deliberations. He also submitted a memorandum to the Fundamental Rights sub-commitlee in which he gave concrete shape to his ideas. This memorandom was later published for wider circulation under the title “States and Minorities, what are their rights and how to secure them in the Constitution of free India”
The Constituent Assembly also appointed three other committees, namely (1) the Union Power committee, (2) the Union Constitution Committee and (3) the provisional Constitution Committee. Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the Chairman of the first two committees while the third one was under the Chairmanship of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. These Committees were set up by a resolution on 30th April 1947.
Dr. Ambedkar was member of the Union Constitution Committee. The report of the Committee was submitted to the President of the Assembly by its chairman Pandit Nehru on 4th July 1947. The work done by Dr. Ambedkar in various sub-committees of the Assembly was considered very useful and convinced the Congress bosses beyond doubt that the legislation and solidification of freedom would not be easy without the services of Dr. Ambedkar. Consequent upon the partition of Bengal, Dr. Ambedkar ceased to be a member of the Constituent Assembly. The Congress Party which had earlier opposed tooth and nail his entry into the Constituent Assembly came forward and sponsored his candidature.
In his letter dated 30th June 1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pres- ident of the Constituent Assembly requested Mr. B.G. Kher, the then Prime Minister of Bombay to elect Dr. Ambedkar immediately. He wrote, “Apart from any other consideration we have found Dr. Ambedkar’s work both in the Constituent Assembly and the various committees to which he was appointed to be of such an order as to require that we should not be deprived of his services. As you know, he was elected from Bengal and after the division of the Province he has ceased to be a member of the Constituent Assembly. I am anxious that he should attend the next session of the Constituent Assembly commencing from the 14th July and it is therefore necessary that he should be elected immediately.
Accordingly, Dr. Ambedkar was re-elected in July 1947 from Bombay as a member of the Constituent Assembly, soon after, Prime Minister Nehru invited him to join the Cabinet he formed on 15th August 1947 on the eve of independence. Dr. Ambedkar accepted the invitation and became india’s first Law Minister. On 29th August, the Assembly unanimously elected him as Chairman of the Drafting Committee which was assigned the task of framing the Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar, who was a strong opponent of Congress had now become their friend, philosopher and guide in the Constitutional matters – Ed).
COMMITTEE TO SCRUTINISE DRAFT CONSTITUTION
Shri Satyanarayan Sinha: Sir, I beg to move – “This Assembly resolves that a Committee consisting of 11) Shri Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, (2) Shri N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, (3) The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, (4) Shri K.M. Munshi, (5) Saiyid Mohd, Saadulla, (6) Sir B.L. Mitter, (7) Shri D.P. Khaitan, be appointed to scrutinise and to suggest necessary amendment to the Draft Constitution of India prepared in the Office of the Assembly on the basis of the decision taken in the Assembly”.
REPORT OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONS COMMITTEE
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Bombay: General) Mr. President, I beg to move that this Assembly do proceed to take into consideration the Report on the functions of the Constituent Assembly under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, submitted by the Committee appointed by the President in pursuance of the decisions of the Assembly on the 20th August 1947.
(To be continued )
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches, Vol. 13. (pages 25-29) 1994, Rs. 190. Govt. of Maharashtra, Bombay. The book may be had from Director, Government Printing, Stationery and Publications. Netaji Subhash Road, Bombay 400 004.
