Indian Constitution Overview

A document establishing the fundamental principles and laws of India.

The body that drafted the Indian Constitution.

A large group of people united by common characteristics, such as language, culture, or shared history.

A report drafted by Motilal Nehru outlining the structure for a free India's constitution.

An armed rebellion against British rule in India.

Leader of the Indian independence movement.

Activities and efforts by Indians to gain independence from colonial rule.

A proposed constitution for an independent India.

Indian independence leader and first Prime Minister of India.

The collective effort of Indians to achieve independence from British rule.

A group of 3 British cabinet ministers sent to India in 1946 to negotiate the transfer of power.

An act enacted by the British to govern India, but it fell short of Indian demands for self-rule, leading to tensions.

Discussions held at Shimla in 1946 between Indian political parties and the British Cabinet Mission.

A day of violence declared by the Muslim League to press for separate Muslim states in 1946.

The final agreement was for one Assembly to form India's Constitution, despite Jinnah's proposal for separate assemblies.

The Cabinet Mission's attempt to resolve differences and create a unified India failed.

A significant movement for Indian independence.

The division of India into two independent nations: India and Pakistan.

Mr. Jinnah's call for separate Constituent Assemblies for Indian Muslims.

A temporary government formed in India before independence, consisting of Indian leaders with Nehru as VP and Patel as Home Minister.

Jinnah initially criticized the Interim Government but eventually allowed his party member, Liaquat Ali Khan, to be the Minister of Finance.

Advice given by Gandhiji to the members of the Constituent Assembly: to always consider how their decisions would impact the poorest and weakest members of society.

A document presented by Nehru outlining the key principles of India's constitution, covering unity, equality, fundamental rights, and more.

The Muslim League, led by Jinnah, decided not to participate in the Constituent Assembly.

Elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly, marking his leadership in shaping the future of India.

Nehru gave the British a deadline to agree to the formation of a Constituent Assembly, using the threat of mass action by Indians.

Viceroy Wavell felt helpless to control the situation in India, leading him to write to King George about the growing instability.

Gandhiji was absent from the Constituent Assembly, as he was focused on resolving communal violence in different parts of India.

A nation is a large group of people unified by common characteristics like language, culture, or shared history.

India's diverse languages, religions, and cultures challenged traditional definitions of a nation, necessitating a unique approach.

India's pursuit of freedom required a new set of rules, not ancient ones, to unite a diverse nation.

Leading artists like Nandalal Bose and calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada designed and decorated the original copy.

The rebellion sparked a dream for a free India with its own Constitution, even though it was ultimately suppressed.

A report by Motilal Nehru in 1928 outlined a framework for a free India's constitution, shaping the vision.

He emphasized that freedom is not freely given, but must be earned and actively sought by a nation.

Three British ministers were sent to India to negotiate the transfer of power and help establish a new government.

Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, wanted separate assemblies for Muslims, leading to tensions.

A temporary government consisting of Indian leaders, with Nehru as VP and Patel as Home Minister, was formed before independence.

The British aimed to prolong their rule in India by establishing a new form of government without granting real independence.

Indians demanded self-rule and a Constituent Assembly to formulate their own Constitution.

Jinnah wanted separate Constituent Assemblies for Muslim-majority provinces, leading to the possibility of a divided India.

The Congress firmly rejected the idea of multiple Constituent Assemblies, advocating for a unified India.

This proposal suggested a loose confederation of states in India, potentially under British influence.

The mission ultimately failed to achieve a satisfactory resolution, leading to escalating tensions and the prospect of division.

The mission's talks ended abruptly, leading to the rise of communal violence and ultimately the partition of India.

Gandhiji worried that escalating violence in India, particularly in Noakhali, could lead to a full-blown civil war.

A temporary government involving Indian leaders, with Nehru as Vice President and Patel as Home Minister, was formed in anticipation of independence.

Jinnah, leading the Muslim League, boycotted the Constituent Assembly because he believed a separate Muslim state was necessary.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly, symbolizing a crucial step towards nation-building.

Jinnah questioned the legitimacy of the Constituent Assembly, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding the formation of independent India.

Although Gandhiji was absent, Nehru acknowledged his influence and spirit, suggesting that his ideals guided the work of the Constituent Assembly.