Dakshayani Velayudhan's speech at Indian Constituent Assembly

Prime Minister of India, Shri. NARENDRA MODI, on the occasion of India's independence day speech in 2025 took the name of Mrs. Dakshayani Velayudhan, one of the nine female members of INDIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY and part of Constitutional drafting committee. Below is one of her first speech given in the Constituent Assembly, before Indian independence. 

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY - DECEMBER 1946

Speech of Smt. Dakshayani Velayudhan, Member of Cochin Legislative Council and Representative to The Indian Constituent Assembly

Ninth Day — New Delhi — 19th December 1946

MRS. VELAYUDAN'S APPEAL TO DR. AMBEDKAR

Srimati Dakshayani Velayudan (Harijan representative) said that the emancipation of the Harijans lay in the national forces which were represented in the Assembly. She hoped that in the Independent India of the future, Harijans would have their honourable place like other citizens (cheers from members). In the Indian Republic there would be no barriers based on caste or community. "I visualise that the underdogs will be the rulers of the Indian Republic. I therefore, appeal to Harijan delegates that they should not harp on separatism. They should not make themselves the laughing stock of future generations.

Communalism, whether Harijan, Christian, Muslim or Sikh, is opposed to nationalism (hear. hear from members). The other day Mr. Churchill was very eloquent over the Harijans and said that the British Government is responsible for the lives of the so-called scheduled castes of India. But what has the British Government done to improve the social status of the Harijans? Did they ever pass any legislation to remove the social disabilities of the Harijans? Mr. Churchill may give protection to a few communalists who may fly to England but he must understand that Harijans are Indians and they have to live in India as Indians. What we want is the removal of the social disabilities. Only an independent Socialist India, India, not the British Government, can give freedom and equality of status to Harijans."

Some of the members of the Negotiating Committee, representing the Chamber of Princes, had objected to the statement in the resolution that power was derived from the people. But the historic message from the Cochin Maharaja to the people of Cochin State, "the most advanced State in India, to which I am proud to say I belong (cheers from members)," justified that statement. The Maharaja said in that message, "I believe in pure constitutional rule and throughout my life I have sedulously cultivated an attitude towards life and institutions which is antipathetic to autocracy and personal rule." It was obvious from this message that power was derived from the people.

The House at this stage adjourned till the 21st.