The Fifteen

Angellica Aribam

Akash Satyawali

The Fifteen offers a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of women in the making of the modern republic... in a world still grappling with the issues they so valiantly fought against.’ – The Telegraph

‘Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling… [t]he book not only rescues these women from historical obscurity but also explores the intersection of gender, politics, and power during one of the most transformative periods in Indian history.’

– Economic and Political Weekly

‘The Fifteen is a wonderful compilation of short biographies of each of the 15, some of whom have faded from memory... A much-needed task.’ – Open Magazine

‘[An] extraordinary fact-filled treatise.’ – Deccan Chronicle

In 1946, the Indian Constituent Assembly was tasked with formulating the document that would soon govern the largest democracy in the world.

Among its 299 members, were 15 women. In this keenly researched book, Angellica Aribam and Akash Satyawali chronicle the lives of these trailblazing women – recounting the influences that shaped them, the norms they defied, and the convictions they stood for.