Sixteen Stormy Days: The Story of the First Amendment to the Constitution of India

The First Amendment to the Indian Constitution, passed in 1951, was a pivotal moment in Indian constitutional history. Sixteen Stormy Days explores the contentious legacy of this amendment, which curbed freedom of speech, restricted freedom against discrimination, and circumscribed the right to property. It follows the sixteen days of debate that led up to it, the people who created it, the great battle waged against it, and the immense consequences it has had for Indian democracy. It is a cautionary tale about an almost forgotten but hugely consequential piece of history that holds the key to understanding the position of civil liberties and individual freedoms in India today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

On January 26, 1950, India embarked on a remarkable journey, becoming a sovereign republic, severing its last ties with its colonial past, and ushering in a new era of liberty and freedom. The adoption of the new constitution, universally recognized as the 'world's greatest experiment in liberal government,' marked a profound departure from a repressive past. This idealistic birth of a new republic sought to establish a clean break from the past. However, just twelve months later, the very architects of the constitution were expressing dissatisfaction with their creation. The First Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in June 1951, was a pivotal moment in Indian constitutional history.

Sixteen Stormy Days delves into the contentious legacy of this amendment, which significantly curtailed freedom of speech, restricted freedom against discrimination, and limited the right to property. The book follows the sixteen days of intense debate that preceded its adoption, the individuals who shaped it, the fierce battle waged against it, and the profound consequences it has had for Indian democracy. It serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting an almost forgotten but immensely consequential chapter of history that holds the key to understanding the current position of civil liberties and individual freedoms in India. The book challenges conventional wisdom on iconic figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, B.R. Ambedkar, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, and Shyama Prasad Mookerji, exposing the vast gap between the liberal promise of India's Constitution and the authoritarian impulses of her first government.

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 147 x 223 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350384385