Member, Constituent Assembly; first woman Governor of an Indian state

Sarojini Naidu

13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949 · Hyderabad

Poet, orator and freedom fighter, Naidu was among fifteen women members of the Constituent Assembly. She advocated for women's political rights, universal adult franchise, and an inclusive vision of Indian citizenship.

Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Contributions to the Constitution

Championed universal adult franchise without gender qualification.
Supported strong fundamental rights against discrimination based on sex.
Represented the moral and cultural voice of the freedom movement inside the Assembly.

Articles shaped

Article 15
Prohibition of discrimination on grounds including sex.
Article 326
Elections on the basis of adult suffrage — a cause she long championed.

Legacy

Naidu's presence and advocacy helped ensure that the Constitution enshrined equal political rights for women from the very first general election.