Book Review: ‘We, the Women of India’ by Angellica Aribam, Akash Satyawali and Vidya Nesarikar

Book Title: We, the Women of India: Fifteen Voices That Shaped the Constitution
Author: Angellica Aribam, Akash Satyawali and Vidya Nesarikar
Publisher: Hachette India Children’s Books
Number of Pages: 248
ISBN: 9357317147
Date Published: Nov. 25, 2025
Price: INR 350

Book Review

“We, the Women of India,” published by Hachette India Children’s Books, chronicles the pivotal roles of fifteen trailblazing women in the Constituent Assembly of 1946–1949. Co-authored by political activist Angellica Aribam and public policy expert Akash Satyawali, with contributions from Vidya Nesarikar, the book spotlights figures like Ammu Swaminathan, Begum Aizaz Rasul, Dakshayani Velayudhan, and Hansa Mehta, who championed widows’ rights, marginalized voices, and gender-neutral language in the Preamble. Aimed at young readers yet resonant for all, it weaves biography, history, and inspiration to honor their dreams of justice and equality.

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The book’s narrative prowess shines in its accessible storytelling, transforming arcane constitutional debates into vivid portraits of resilience—from village teachers to royal reformers who bridged class, caste, and creed divides. Aribam and Satyawali deftly balance personal struggles with legislative triumphs, such as Mehta’s push for “all human beings are born free and equal” over male-centric phrasing, underscoring the women’s foresight in embedding equity into India’s foundational document. Visually engaging with illustrations and a youthful tone, it avoids hagiography by grounding feats in context, though its children’s focus occasionally simplifies complex socio-political undercurrents.

While occasionally skimming deeper ideological clashes within the Assembly, “We, the Women of India” excels as a clarion call for contemporary relevance, reminding readers that these architects’ legacies demand ongoing vigilance against inequality. Endorsed through contests and promotions by outlets like The Hindu Young World, it bridges past and present, urging the next generation to inherit their unfinished revolution. This poignant paperback not only educates but ignites a fierce belief in women’s enduring agency in nation-building.

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