Book Talk on Assembling India’s Constitution:
A New Democratic History
The School of Law hosted historians Dr. Rohit De and Dr. Ornit Shani for a discussion on their recent book, Assembling India’s Constitution: A New Democratic History. In conversation with Dr. Anuj Bhuwania, the authors explored a lesser-known dimension of Indian constitutional history: the active role played by ordinary citizens in shaping the Constitution. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A involving students and faculty members.
Dr. Shani began by reflecting on the extraordinary circumstances under which the Constitution was drafted. Amidst Partition, widespread violence, uncertain territorial boundaries, and significant social and economic challenges, the task of constitution-making appeared daunting. Yet, as she emphasized, constitutional debates were not confined to political leaders or legal experts. Citizens across the subcontinent wrote letters, petitions and telegrams to the Constituent Assembly, voicing their aspiration and expectations for the future republic. These exchanges reveal that constitution-making was not merely an institutional exercise, but a deeply participatory democratic process in which ordinary people actively sought to shape the nation’s future.
Building on these observations, Dr. De outlined the broader themes of the book and the diverse forms of public engagement it uncovers. Relying on extensive archival research, the authors show how constitutional discussions unfolded far beyond the halls of the Constituent Assembly. Public meetings, newspapers, circulated drafts, and community discussions became important spaces for debate. The book traces how caste associations, linguistic groups, tribal communities, and other collective organisations articulated demands relating to rights, representation and welfare, challenging the conventional view that the Constitution was solely the product of elite deliberation.
Responding to questions from Dr. Bhuwania and students, the authors shared insights into the origins of the project and the archival work that made it possible. They explained how their independent research efforts eventually converged, leading to a collaborative project that brought together previously scattered materials. Drawing from records preserved in institutions such as the Election Commission, court archives, newspapers, pamphlets, and citizen correspondence, they highlighted how much of this material had remained overlooked despite being publicly accessible.
The book talk provided a fresh perspective on constitutional history—one that foregrounds participation, debate, and the often-forgotten voices that contributed to the making of the republic.
