Hansa Mehta

Hansa Mehta
Name	Hansa Mehta
Caption	Hansa Mehta, c. 1940s
Birth date	3 July 1897
Birth place	Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India
Death date	4 April 1995 (aged 97)
Death place	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Baroda College, London School of Economics
Occupation	Educator, reformer, politician, writer
Known for	Constituent Assembly member, women's rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Spouse	Jivraj Mehta

Hansa Mehta was a pioneering Indian reformer, educator, and stateswoman who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India's constitutional and social landscape. A formidable advocate for gender equality, she left an indelible mark as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and on the international stage with the United Nations. Her multifaceted career spanned politics, academia, and literature, championing progressive reforms for women's rights and education.

Early life and education

Born into an influential family in Surat, her father, Manubhai Mehta, was the Dewan of Baroda State, exposing her early to progressive ideals and public service. She pursued her higher education at Baroda College, then part of the University of Bombay, where she earned a bachelor's degree. Defying conventions, she traveled to England for further studies, graduating with a degree in Sociology from the London School of Economics. During her time in London, she was influenced by the suffragette movement and engaged with other Indian intellectuals, which profoundly shaped her feminist and nationalist perspectives.

Political and social activism

Her activism began in earnest upon her return to India, where she joined the Indian National Congress and the All India Women's Conference, becoming a leading figure in the struggle against colonial rule. She participated actively in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned by the British authorities for her nationalist activities. Serving as President of the All India Women's Conference in 1946, she worked alongside figures like Sarojini Naidu and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur to link the national freedom movement with the fight for women's emancipation, advocating for social reforms like the Hindu Code Bills.

Role in the Constituent Assembly of India

Appointed to the Constituent Assembly of India in 1946, she was a member of the crucial Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee and the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights. She strongly argued for the inclusion of a uniform civil code and was instrumental in ensuring the language of fundamental rights was gender-neutral, notably changing the phrase "All men are born free and equal" to "All human beings are born free and equal" in the draft declaration. Her interventions were critical in embedding principles of equality and non-discrimination based on sex into the Constitution of India.

Advocacy for women's rights

Her advocacy extended beyond the assembly hall; she fought tirelessly for legal reforms to improve the status of women in Indian society. She was a vocal proponent of the Hindu Succession Act and laws governing Hindu marriage and divorce, seeking to abolish discriminatory practices. As India's delegate to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 1947 to 1948, she, alongside Eleanor Roosevelt, worked on the drafting committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ensuring it reflected women's rights as human rights and famously presenting a draft on the convention on the political rights of women.

Literary and academic contributions

A prolific writer and scholar, she authored numerous works in Gujarati and English, including translations, children's literature, and essays on social issues. She translated Shakespearean works like The Merchant of Venice into Gujarati and wrote insightful studies on the status of women. In academia, she served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Baroda, becoming one of the first women to lead a co-educational university in India, and later as the President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Legacy and recognition

Hansa Mehta's legacy is enshrined in India's constitutional framework and its ongoing pursuit of gender justice. Her international contributions were recognized with her election as the President of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 1950. In India, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1959. Institutions like the Hansa Mehta College in Mumbai and her remembered role in foundational documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights continue to honor her life's work as a bridge between India's freedom struggle and the global human rights movement.

Category:Indian women's rights activists Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India Category:Indian educators