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Home ≫ The Constitution Framers ≫ Har Govind Pant

Constituent Assembly Members

Har Govind Pant

1885 - 1957

Key Information

Party: Indian National Congress

Constituency: United Provinces

Religion: Hindu

Caste:

Gender: Male

Mother Tongue: Hindi

Education: Graduate

Committee Memberships

None

Biography

Early Life

Har Govind Pant was born on 19 May 1885 in Almora district in present-day Uttar Pradesh. After graduating from Muir Central College, he obtained a law degree from School of Law, Allahabad (1909). Soon after, he started practicing law at Ranikhet (1910).

Role in India’s Independence Movement

Pant was a frequent contributor to the local newspapers that contained nationalist ideas. Through these articles he sought to influence and educate the masses about the political landscape in the country. He founded the Kumaon Parishad, a political movement that emerged to oppose the repression by the British. He was one of the leaders who was involved in grass-root level campaigns to build solidarity among people. Pant specifically focused on fighting against the oppressive begar system (forced labour) imposed by the British.

Due to his active involvement in various political movements, he was appointed President of the District Congress and also elected to the U. P. Provincial Congress Committee. Pant was a member of the All-India Congress Committee for five years.

Pant was the first to initiate the ‘Salt Satyagraha‘ campaign, and the ‘Quit India‘ Movement (1942) in Almora. In 1935, he was elected to the U. P. Legislative Council.

Contribution to Constitution Making

Pant was elected to the Assembly on a Congress Party ticket from United Provinces. He was not a vocal participant in the Assembly discussions.

Contributions Post-Independence

Pant was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the United Provinces Legislature on 4 January 1951. He was later elected as the Chairman of the Rules of Procedure Committee of the House, and served on all major committees of the Legislative Assembly.

He passed away on 18 May 1957.

Key Speeches

Praising Ambedkar for his role in drafting the Constitution, Pant conferred the title of ‘Pandit’ upon him. He also expressed satisfaction that a clause for cow protection was included in the Directive Principles.

Resources

‘My Father Har Govind Pant and Indian National Congress, 1885-1957’ by C.C. Pant