The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation

by Granville Austin

The Indian Constitution provides a history of the Indian Constituent Assembly. It discusses how and why the members of the Assembly wrote their constitution as they did. This new edition of Austin's classic work has a preface that brings it up to date with contemporary developments in constitutional law.

Genres: India, Politics, History, Law, Nonfiction, Academic, Indian Literature

390 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Granville Seward Austin (born 1927) was an American historian of the Indian Constitution.

Reviews

[Raghavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though published in 1966, well before Indian democracy dangerously came close to becoming a dictatorship, and successfully had a change of government, this book lucidly explains why India has been an exception to the rule that democracy has failed in third world countries.
This is not a book explaining the provisions of the constitution, but the motives and the situations that the resulted in framing the constitution the way it was.
The debates on fundamental rights, federal vs unitary government, language and minority rights are an eye opener for all.
Like the author says, the credit for the successful working of the constitution goes to the Indians.

[Sumirti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another an excellent work I have read this year that requires a detailed review.
Will do it soon :)

[Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book thoroughly documents how the constituent assembly (with the help of lawmakers and various other experts) drafted various parts of the constitution (Fundamental rights, directive principles, executive, judiciary, federalism, language provisions to name a few). I took my own sweet time to read this as this is a very heavy read. Reading the book one understands why various provisions exist in the constitution as it is today. You will also see that many of the prominent figures (Nehru, Patel, Ambedkar, Prasad to name a few) wield enormous influence but they never forgo consensus and accommodation (two prominent features of the constitution making process) to enforce their will. Author cites that's what makes this an Indian constitution even though it has foreign origins. None of the important parts of the constitution was decided based on majority. The assembly always sought consensus. You also understand why constitution borrowed heavily from 1935 Act. Constituent assembly debates about every minor detail that went into the constitution (For ex: Removal of the words "Due process" in one of the articles was debated so extensively). You will also see partition (and fears it stokes) shaping articles around federalism and relationship between provinces and union. The assembly adopts cooperative federalism that allows a strong center while allowing provincial governments to have considerable autonomy in running their state and legislating on provincial matters.

The interesting part for me were the language provisions. The most bitter debate. You will see the rabid desire to impose one language on people in the name of national unity. This is one matter in which there was majority but no consensus and the Hindi speaking faction wanted to use even a one majority vote to impose the will of the majority. The book details how the assembly arrived at the current provision because of the tireless efforts of the moderates who kept the Hindi factions from trying to enforce linguistic homogeneity in a country that is composed of linguistic minorities. Hindi factions wanted everyone to adopt Hindi to promote unity but were actually destroying unity in the constituent assembly.

I liked how the author remains unbiased so this book never tells the formation of constitution from point of view of a popular leader or from point of view of a specific party. There is also a conclusion chapter at the end that summarizes everything. This is a book everyone must read!

[Ribhav Pande · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely essential read for an exhaustive narrative of the task of creating the Indian Constitution. The book is the 1st of the 2 landmark books the author has written on the subject, the other being “Working of a Democratic Constitution”. This book deals with the background to the preparation of the Constitution and the actual preparation & debates on some crucial aspects.

There are many fascinating stories in the book which will make you sit back and wonder about the final form the Constitution took and the rights flowing from it. The exchanges in the form of letters and memos and the views expressed therein were my favourite bits.

The author also gives his critique on the structure of the Indian Constitution, which is a worthy and well respected opinion among jurists. A very enriching read.

[Hemant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough. Insightful. Careful evaluation of published and unpublished material.

Time, therefore, has happily proved criticisms of the Constitution ill-founded. That the Indian Constitution was an ably conceived and drafted document, showing a creative, if not an original, approach to the nation's constitutional needs, we cannot justly doubt. This is borne out, if in no other way, by the success of democratic, parliamentary government in India, for if it is quite possible to govern badly with a good constitution, it is nearly impossible to govern well with an inadequate one.

The ideal of consensus is the most democratic of standards. The idea of non-violent, non-coercive self rule, also strongly established in India, is equally so.

[Razi Shaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book both readable and informative. There's simple language, clear narrations and a fine assessment of both the technical and the political part of the making of the Constitution. If there's one book you must pick on the subject, make it this one.

[Dhiraj Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offered what I was looking for. I wanted a book where the center idea is how our constitution came into being and not the constitution, along with it's various articles and clauses, itself. The reasoning why certain articles were adopted the way they were adopted are clearly explained in this book by authors view or by the views of the authors of the original articles. As someone who hasn't studied law or political science, it was a great for me.

[Pooja Banga · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Indian Constitution provides a history of the Indian Constituent Assembly. It discusses how and why the members of the Assembly wrote their constitution as they did.
Must read for all those who are interested in politics and constitution of India ...

Edit:This is a great book to learn more about Indian constitution. Great constitutional debates

[Mg Thamizhvalavan]

I read this book after reading the obituary lolumn in the Frontline. An excellent description of Indian Constitution!

[Akshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating the Architectural Brilliance - "The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation" by Granville Austin

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Granville Austin's magnum opus, "The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation," stands as a towering achievement in the realm of constitutional scholarship. Meticulously researched and eloquently written, this book provides a profound exploration of the genesis, evolution, and significance of the Indian Constitution, solidifying its place as an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the foundational principles of the world's largest democracy.

Key Strengths:

Historical Context: Austin masterfully contextualizes the creation of the Indian Constitution within the broader historical tapestry, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the socio-political landscape during that pivotal period.
In-Depth Analysis: The author's deep dive into the constitutional debates, the framing process, and the debates surrounding key provisions illuminates the meticulous thought and foresight invested by the framers.
Legal Insight: Austin's legal acumen shines through, presenting complex constitutional concepts in a manner accessible to both legal scholars and lay readers, enhancing the inclusivity of his work.
Political Perspectives: The book offers insightful glimpses into the political ideologies and diverse viewpoints that shaped the Constitution, providing a well-rounded portrayal of the debates and compromises.
Contemporary Relevance: Despite being rooted in the past, Austin skillfully draws connections between historical constitutional developments and their enduring impact on contemporary Indian society and governance.

Conclusion: "The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation" is a masterclass in constitutional scholarship. Granville Austin's meticulous research, eloquent prose, and comprehensive analysis make this book an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a profound understanding of the constitutional bedrock that underpins the Republic of India.

[Manvendra Shekhawat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have my constitutional law paper in 2 days and I spent my time reading this book. Needless to say I didn’t/wouldn’t regret doing it[hopefully].

This book explores the ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’ of the contents our constitution. In other words ‘The conscience of our Constituent assembly’ is reflected in this book. It would’ve been my dream to go through the CADs but the chances of that happening are bleak so gotta content myself with reading such material. But it never disappoints. In fact it is enlightening on many aspects.

Might feel a bit outdated as it was written in the mid sixties but the historical aspect of our constitution is worth reading.

At one point the author says that a member of parliament told him that the calibre or potential of the parliament at present (i.e. 60s) was hardly comparable to that of the constituent assembly’s.

India was blessed to have the kind of constituent assembly that it got. This thought sometimes gets lost in the fully deserved praise of Ambedkar, Nehru, Patel, Prasad & Azad. The unsung heroes of the assembly played a crucial role too in the making of this document which continues to serve such a crucial role in our lives.

A must read for every law student and anyone remotely interested in the history of our constitution making.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 5 out of 5]

No wonder this is a classic! A must-read for all those interested in policy, Indian law, governance, and political theory. The author discusses first the setting up of the Constituent Assembly, the political events that made the whole process fraught with difficulties and tensions - not least the awkward position the Muslim League placed itself in vis-a-vis the Assembly. Then the broad plan of the making of constitution and the arrangement of power and decision making is given a taste. This is the opportunity for those to shine who in India's struggle for freedom, had not much role to play - Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer for example but the hero surely is BN Rau. Through the rest of the book, the author goes through section after section of this extraordinary text and how each phrase was birthed through deliberation. How did some issues become more important than others? And how did the lines that ended up finally being come to be? I for one have left with a new hero - Motilal Nehru who as back as 1928 produced something of a blueprint for this future constitution. Perhaps it was too early for that - but I would have enjoyed some critical digs from the historian.

[Ankita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 2014. As a young law student I was fascinated by really fat and pretty books, and all the hype created around the Indian Constitution and the independence struggle.

So this is mostly why I still remember reading it.
We as a young nation were led by very capable people, who had there heart in the right place. They all were true statesman, true leaders.
Ambedkar, Nehru, Patel, etc.

Reading this book will show how much effort goes into nation building, and giving it a Constitution it NEEDS. It's never easy to manage such a diverse country, it can be a challenging task. The books is a brief count of this.
Anyone who reads it will be thoroughly impressed by the intellectual rigor the assembly had.

Balancing such diverse opinion on the future of our nation and giving everyone what is needed, such a task can only be done by true 'leaders.'

Apart from the main book the author writes a 20 pages essay on the Indian Society. The essay is a very deep insight into our society, past and present. I completely agree with his analysis, and would suggest everyone to read that part too. 🙂
Happy Reading

[Sandeep Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the outset, I should say this book is a great work of scholarship. The author details a very thorough account of how our Constitution took shape and what factors influenced it in shaping up. Drawing mainly from original sources, the author builds a narrative around each aspect of our Constitution in such a way that you are able to enjoy the flow of information instead of getting sucked into lots of legal doctrines. A must-read book for anyone who wants to understand modern India.

[Shyamanjan Bose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect read for the novices like me who want to have some idea about indian constitution.

[Neeraj Kholiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best reference book on the history of the Indian constitution.

[Harikrishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great work by Austin on Constitution and it’s constituent assembly debates

[Satyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book. Answered so many questions I had, cleared lots of prejudices i held. Hell of a book. Must read.

[Nishkarsh Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for readers of political science, legal studies and aspirants of civil services. It provides pervasive aspects and supplements the understanding of our constitution.

The writer has worked in great detail to establish the rationale behind every article in our constitution and put forth the minds of constitution makers.

The book covers fundamental rights, union executive and federalism in great detail and helps the reader develop a multidimensional approach to the challenges of modern politics in India.

Overall, serious content and requires patience.

[Anandhan]

The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation

[Amit Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindblowing

[Shiv Anand]

nice