Sixteen Stormy Days

by Tripurdaman Singh

  1. Freedom of the Press/Speech at the All India Newspaper Editors Conference, 3 December 1950, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 15/2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1993), p. 250, p. 251.

  2. ‘Nehru Not Visiting Washington: AINEC Plea for Liaison Machinery Accepted’, Hindustan Times, 4 December 1950, New Delhi, p. 1.

  3. ‘Nehru’s Address to AINEC’, Hindustan Times, 4 December 1950, New Delhi, p. 10.

  4. Jawaharlal Nehru to B.C. Roy, 16 December 1950, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 15/2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1993), p. 257.

  5. ‘Validity of Bihar Estate Act: Govt. Challenges High Court Order’, Hindustan Times, 9 December 1950, New Delhi, p. 5.

  6. Jawaharlal Nehru to G.V. Mavalankar, 13 December, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 15/2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1993), p. 233.

  7. Ibid.

  8. Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 718–27.

  9. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 18 December 1950, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 291.

  10. Sardar Patel’s Note to Mahatma Gandhi, 12 January 1948, Durga Das, ed., Sardar Patel’s Correspondence, Vol. VI (Ahmedabad: 1973), pp. 21–22.

  11. Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Three Horsemen of the New Apocalypse (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 114.

  12. S. Gopal and Uma Iyengar, eds., The Essential Writings of Jawaharlal Nehru (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), pp. 644–45.

  13. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 31 December 1950, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 309.

  14. ‘Zamindari Bill’, Times of India, 23 December 1950, Bombay, p. 6.

  15. Ibid.

  16. ‘UP Zamindari Bill: Passage in Assembly May be Delayed’, Hindustan Times, 30 December 1950, New Delhi, p. 6.

  17. Ibid.

  18. Literally meaning ‘victory to Mother India’.

  19. ‘Zamindari Abolition Bill Passed: Act May be Enforced on Republic Day’, Hindustan Times, 11 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1.

  20. ‘Council Passes UP Zamindari Bill’, Hindustan Times, 17 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1.

  21. Kameshwar Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1951 Pat. 91.

  22. ‘Land Reforms Act Essential: Bihar Govt’s Plea in High Court’, Hindustan Times, 18 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 4.

  23. Ibid.

  24. Law Ministry Note, 6 January 1951, quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  25. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  26. Law Ministry Note, 15 January 1951, quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  27. Ibid. Also see Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 81.

  28. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  29. Article 226 of the Constitution governed the rights and powers of the high courts.

  30. ‘UP Zamindars Move’, Times of India, 18 January 1951, Bombay, p. 9.

  31. ‘President’s Assent to UP Zamindari Abolition Bill: Fabric of a New Order Complete Says Pant’, Hindustan Times, 25 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1.

  32. Ibid.

  33. ‘Injunction on UP Government’, Hindustan Times, 26 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 12.

  34. Ibid.

  35. ‘Zamindari Abolition in UP Stayed: Allahabad High Court Issues Injunctions’, Hindustan Times, 26 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1; Raja Suryapal Singh and Others v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1951 All. 674

  36. Ibid.

  37. Ibid.

  38. ‘Congress Hold Over People Discussed’, Hindustan Times, 26 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1.

  39. For example, ‘Opposition from Within: Democrats Crusade Against Corruption’, Times of India, 23 December 1950, Bombay, p. 6; See also Myron Weiner, Party Politics in India: The Development of a Multi-Party System (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1957), pp. 71–74.

  40. ‘Congress Hold Over People Discussed’, Hindustan Times, 26 January 1951, New Delhi, p. 1.

  41. Ibid.

  42. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 1 February 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964 Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 325.

  43. See, for example, Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, p. 719.

  44. ‘Amending the Constitution: Committee’s Call, MPs Asked for Suggestions’, Times of India, 14 February 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  45. Mohan Lal Gautam’s daughter, Sheela, was a noted BJP leader, who was elected several times as MP from Aligarh. She also founded the Sleepwell mattress brand.

  46. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  47. ‘Amending the Constitution: Committee’s Call, MPs Asked for Suggestions’, Times of India, 14 February 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  48. Ibid.

  49. Statement in Parliament, 16 February 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 15/2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1993), p. 235.

  50. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 18 February 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 337.

  51. Ibid.

  52. G.B. Pant to Jawaharlal Nehru, 5 March 1951, File 3, Pant–Nehru Correspondence, G.B. Pant Collection, National Archives of India; Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43, p. 81, p. 93.

  53. Ibid.

  54. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43, p. 84.

  55. ‘Bihar Land Reform Act Held “Ultra Vires”: High Court Ruling in Favour of Zamindars’, Times of India, 13 March 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  56. Kameshwar Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1951 Pat. 91.

  57. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 84.

  58. Remarks at a Press Conference, 13 March 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 153.

  59. Memorandum, 14 March 1951, Law Ministry File F34/51-C, National Archives of India; quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43, p. 44.

  60. Ibid.

  61. Memorandum, 14 March 1951, Law Ministry File F34/51-C, National Archives of India; quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 84.

  62. In one of the many quirks of fate, in 1952, Ambedkar would find himself out of the government and arguing in the Supreme Court against zamindari abolition legislation in Madhya Pradesh alongside P.R. Das. Vishweshwar Rao v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 1952 SC 252. He would also appear for Maharaja Kameshwar Singh in the state’s appeal against the Patna High Court judgment.

  63. Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First Among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, p. 711.

  64. Memorandum, 14 March 1951, Law Ministry File F34/51-
C, National Archives of India; quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 44.

  65. Ibid.

  66. ‘SC Verdict in Priyanka Sharma’s Case Is a Classic Example of the Half Loaf of Freedom: Meghnad Desai’, The Indian Express, 19 May 2019, New Delhi; https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/independence-british-rule-women-safety-sexual-harrassment-waiting-for-freedom-democracy-5735394/ (accessed on 25 June 2019).

  67. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 44.

  68. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 21 March 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 363.

  69. V.K.T. Chari to K.V.K. Sundaram, 14 March 1951, Law Ministry File F34/51-C, National Archives of India; quoted in Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 84.

  70. Quoted from Upendra Baxi, ‘Constitution contains a kindred concept of justice, asks a citizen to be responsive to sufferings of co-citizens’, Indian Express, 6 June 2019, https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-constitutional-citizen-rights-freedom-india-5767375/ (accessed on 16 December 2019). In certain cases, Chief Justice Gajendragadkar of the Bombay High Court is said to be the source of this quote.

  71. Kameshwar Singh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1951 Pat. 91.

  72. Ibid.

  73. Ibid.

  74. Ibid.

  75. ‘Zamindari Abolition’, Times of India, 14 March 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  76. Ibid.

  77. Sarbani Sen, The Constitution of India: Popular Sovereignty and Democratic Transformations (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2007), p. 160.

  78. West Bengal Settlement Kanungo Cooperative Society v. Bela Banerjee &Others, AIR 1951 Cal. 111.

  79. Ibid.

  80. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 45.

  81. ‘Reverence for the State: C. Rajagopalachari’, Hindustan Times, Republic Day Special, 26 January 1950, New Delhi, p. 6

  82. ‘Biggest Liberal Experiment in Democratic Government: Kenneth C. Wheare’, Hindustan Times, 26 January 1950, New Delhi, p. 1.

  83. The article was penned under the pseudonym ‘Chanakya’. It was first printed in a publication titled Rashtrapati in November 1937, and again in The Modern Review of Calcutta in November 1947. See S. Gopal and Uma Iyengar, eds., The Essential Writings of Jawaharlal Nehru (New Delhi: 2003), pp. 644–45. See also Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 709–11.

  Chapter 5: The Clouds Burst

  1. State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan, AIR 1951 SC 226.

  2. B. Venkataramana v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR 1951 SC 229.

  3. ‘Communal GO Not Constitutional: Madras Case in Supreme Court’, Times of India, 27 March 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  4. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 43.

  5. Sarvepalli Gopal, Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography Volume Two: 1947-1956 (London: Cape, 1979), p. 312.

  6. Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, p. 719.

  7. Gopal was the son of India’s first vice-president, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He served as director of the Historical Division in the external affairs ministry, as reader in Indian history at the University of Oxford and a founding figure and professor at the Centre of Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

  8. Sarvepalli Gopal, Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography Volume Two: 1947-1956 (London: 1979), p. 304.

  9. Ibid, p. 313.

  10. ‘Removing Lacunae in Constitution: Amendments Proposed’, Times of India, 9 April 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  11. ‘Proposed Amendments to Constitution: Move to Abridge Fundamental Rights of Citizens’, The Statesman, 9 April 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  12. State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan, AIR 1951 SC 226.

  13. B. Venkataramana v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR 1951 SC 229.

  14. Ibid.

  15. ‘Communal Ratio in Madras Public Services: Government Order Invalid’, Times of India, 10 April 1951, Bombay, p. 5; ‘Madras Communal GO Declared Void: Repugnant to Fundamental Rights says Supreme Court’, The Statesman, 10 April 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  16. Ibid.

  17. Jawaharlal Nehru to P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja, 11 April 1951, S. Gopal, ed., Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 16/1 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1994), p. 153.

  18. Ibid.

  19. ‘Communal GO’, Times of India, 10 April 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  20. ‘Fundamental Rights’, Times of India, 12 April 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  21. ‘The Rule of Law’, Times of India, 18 April 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  22. Ibid.

  23. ‘Alterations in Constitution: Defer Action Till After Elections’, Times of India, 14 April 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  24. ‘Curtailment of the Right of Speech: Mr. P.N. Mehta’s Views’, Times of India, 20 April 1951, Bombay, p. 8.

  25. ‘Proposed Changes in Constitution: Mr. P.R. Das’s Protest’, Times of India, 23 April 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  26. ‘Amending Articles in Constitution: Move Unwise says Dr. M.R. Jayakar’, Times of India, 22 April 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  27. Ibid.

  28. Ibid.

  29. ‘Proposed Changes in Constitution: Lawyers’ Protest’, Times of India, 24 April 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  30. ‘Revision of Indian Constitution: Opposition by Merchants’, Times of India, 30 April 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  31. ‘Reader’s Views: Amendment of the Constitution’, Times of India, 14 April 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  32. Ibid.

  33. ‘Unreasonable Move: To the Editor’, Times of India, 30 April 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  34. Ibid.

  35. Rajindar Sachar, ‘Credibility is Crucial’, PUCL Bulletin, Vol. XXXVI, No. 2, February 2016, p. 12.

  36. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 85.

  37. Ibid, p. 94.

  38. Ibid, p. 97.

  39. ‘Amending Constitution’, Times of India, 20 April 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  40. ‘Bill to Amend the Constitution: Changes to be Limited in Number and Scope’, Times of India, 19 April 1951, Bombay, p. 1.

  41. Ibid.

  42. ‘Madras Ministers Meet Mr. Nehru: Communal GO Issue’, Times of India, 28 April 1951, Bombay, p. 7.

  43. ‘Communal GO’, Times of India, 10 May 1951, Bombay, p. 6.

  44. Ibid.

  45. Note on Amendments to the Constitution, 30 April 1951, Valmiki Chaudhary, ed., Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Selected Documents, Vol. 14 (New Delhi: Allied Publishers, 1991), p. 273.

  46. Ibid.

  47. Ibid, p. 275.

  48. Ibid, p. 274.

  49. Ibid, p. 273.

  50. Ibid.

  51. Ibid, p. 274.

  52. Note on Amendments to the Constitution, 30 April 1951, Valmiki Chaudhary, ed., Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Selected Documents, Vol. 14 (New Delhi: 1991), p. 277; Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 86.

  53. See Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, p. 719.

  54. Jawaharlal Nehru to Chief Ministers, 2 May 1951, G. Parthasarathi, ed., Letters to Chief Ministers, 1947-1964, Vol. 2 (New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, 1986), p. 387.

  55. ‘UP Zamin
dari Abolition Act Declared Valid’, The Statesman, 11 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 1; Raja Suryapal Singh and Others v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1951 All. 674.

  56. Sunil Khilnani, The Idea of India (New Delhi: Penguin Books India, 2012), p. 24.

  57. ‘Freedoms of the Press’, Times of India, 21 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  58. See Harshan Kumarasingham, ‘The Indian Version of First Among Equals: Executive Power during the First Decade of Independence,’ Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 44, No. 4, p. 712.

  59. Ibid.

  60. ‘Provision against Sedition to Be Made in Constitution: Mr. Nehru Might Introduce Bill This Week’, The Statesman, 11 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 1.

  61. Ibid.

  62. Granville Austin, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), p. 86.

  63. Hussain Imam, 12 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8584.

  64. Speaker, 12 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8584.

  65. ‘Nehru Introduces Bill to Amend Constitution: Further Curbs on Freedom’, The Statesman, 13 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 1.

  66. ‘Amendment of Constitution: Mr. P.N. Mehta’s Views’, Times of India, 16 May 1951, Bombay, p. 5.

  67. Ibid.

  68. ‘Amendment to Constitution Not Right Now: Lawyers Urged to Protest’, Times of India, 17 May 1951, Bombay, p. 7; ‘Lawyers Criticise Proposed Measure’, The Statesman, 17 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 5.

  69. ‘Fundamental Rights’, Times of India, 15 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  70. Ibid.

  71. ‘Early Action on Constitution Amendment Bill: Mr. Nehru to Serve on Select Committee’, Times of India, 16 May 1951, Bombay, p. 4.

  72. Ibid.

  73. Ibid; ‘Constitution Amendment Bill’, The Statesman, 13 May 1951, Calcutta, p. 1.

  74. Jawaharlal Nehru, 16 May 1951, Parliamentary Debates, Part II, Vol. XII (New Delhi: 1951), p. 8815.

  75. Ibid.

  76. Ibid.

  77. Ibid, p. 8818.

  78. Ibid, p. 8826.

  79. Ibid, p. 8828.

  80. Ibid, p. 8823.

  81. Ibid, p. 8824.

  82. Ibid, p. 8816.

  83. Ibid, p. 8821.

  84. Ibid, p. 8831.