Gupta called upon today’s legislators to carry forward this intellectual and patriotic tradition.
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Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Thursday underscored the urgent need to reconnect with India’s constitutional heritage and draw inspiration from the foresight of its early legislators.
Speaking at a symposium at the assembly on “Pre-Independence Parliamentary Systems (1911–1946) in India and the Role of Indian Members in our Freedom Movement,” Gupta, citing the visionary leadership of Madan Mohan Malaviya and Vithalbhai Patel, reminded the audience that even a century ago, country’s representatives upheld the ideals of democracy, civil liberties, and parliamentary decorum.
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Recounting Malaviya’s historic five-hour-long address against the Rowlatt Act in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, Gupta called upon today’s legislators to carry forward this intellectual and patriotic tradition.
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He reiterated that the efforts by the Delhi Vidhan Sabha is the beginning of a sustained academic initiative aimed at building a rich institutional archive that not only preserves but also promotes India’s pre-Independence legislative legacy.
Delivering keynote address on the occasion, former MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, commended the Delhi Legislative Assembly for highlighting and bringing forward an important, and neglected yet critical phase in India’s democratic evolution.
He emphasized that the country’s democratic ethos far predates colonial constructs, coming from old values rooted in dialogue, dissent, and deliberation.
Reflecting on the contributions of people such as Vithalbhai Patel and Bhagat Singh, he called for a renewed focus on institutional accountability and modernization.
While appreciating the assembly’s role in fostering civic awareness, especially among youth, even under the constraints of colonial rule, he observed that Indian legislators back then exhibited remarkable political maturity and ethical clarity, laying a solid foundation for the parliamentary traditions.
Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, who was also present on the occasion, remarked that understanding the contributions of nationalist leaders within the colonial legislative structure is essential to appreciating the constitutional and democratic values that contributed in shaping the country’s freedom movement.
President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts Ram Bahadur Rai, who was also present on the occasion, lauded the efforts by Delhi Vidhan Sabha to revive interest in the nation’s early parliamentary history.
He emphasized that by revisiting these foundational moments, it simply enriches the democratic imagination and also honors the memory of those legislative pioneers who are less-known.
On the occasion, Dr. Neerja Singh, a professor at the Delhi University, presented her paper, “Vithalbhai Patel: Role of Nationalist Leaders within the Imperial Legislative Council”, where she emphasized the importance of the constitutional front in India’s freedom struggle, often overshadowed by mass movements.
She showcased how Vithalbhai Patel, as the first elected Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925, institutionalized parliamentary dignity and democratic norms, including the creation of an independent Assembly Secretariat in 1929.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from MLAs including Chief Whip Abhay Verma , university students, law interns, and academicians.
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