H.C. Mookerjee

History glossary

Also called: Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, H.C. Mookherjee · Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"

Meaning

H.C. Mookerjee (Harendra Coomar Mookerjee) was a Christian educationist from Bengal, meaning a scholar and teacher. He was the Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly. He was president of its Minorities Sub-Committee, which looked at how to protect religious and other minorities. As a minority leader himself, he backed one shared citizenship instead of separate political blocs. Later he became Governor of West Bengal and held the post until his death in 1956.

Example

In 1947-49, Mookerjee's Minorities Sub-Committee worked under Patel's Advisory Committee. Its work led to separate electorates being dropped. Minorities were given cultural and educational rights instead, later written in as Articles 29-30.

Don't confuse with

  • Syama Prasad Mookerjee: he was also a Bengali member of the Assembly. He was a Hindu Mahasabha leader and later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He did not head the Minorities Sub-Committee.

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