Hansa Jivraj Mehta

Hansa Jivraj Mehta was born in 1897 in India. She pursued higher education at a time when opportunities for Indian women were limited and studied at the London School of Economics. Her education contributed to her later work in social reform, women's education, and public life.

Mehta became involved in India's freedom movement and was arrested on 30 August 1930 during the struggle against British colonial rule. She later became an important advocate for women's rights and education and served as President of the All-India Women's Conference in 1946.

After independence, Mehta became a member of India's Constituent Assembly from 1947 to 1950. She participated in the process of shaping the constitutional framework of the new Indian state and advocated for equality and the rights of women.

Her most internationally recognized contribution came through the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. She was one of India's delegates to the Commission beginning in 1947. During the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she objected to wording that referred to “men” and supported the more inclusive formulation “all human beings.” The United Nations credits her with helping bring about this change in Article 1.

The final wording of Article 1 states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Mehta's contribution is therefore closely associated with the use of gender-inclusive language in one of the foundational documents of modern international human rights.

Mehta also made important contributions to education. She served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Baroda from 1949 to 1958 and worked to expand educational opportunities for women. She later served on the Executive Board of UNESCO during the late 1950s and was involved in India's international educational and cultural work.

Hansa Mehta's career connected India's freedom movement, women's education, constitutional development, and international human rights. Her role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains one of the most documented aspects of her legacy, and the United Nations continues to commemorate her contribution.