I spend a lot of time reading the Indian Constituent Assembly Debates, and I have long heard rumors that the audio (and some video recordings) exist. I am THRILLED that @prasarbharati archives are digitizing it and putting it online. And they are magnificent to listen to(1)

Here's Sarojini Naidu infusing humor and poetry and bringing the house down with applause and laughter. "I don't know how much time I have to speak, but I go with the proverb, the woman must have the last word and the longest word. (2)

Reading the prose and hearing her oratory completely different experiences. Her Hindustani is as beautiful as her English and her wry sense of humor (I shall confine myself as a woman should to purely domestic issues ) (3)

They make an interesting choice of Dr Ambedkar's speech, the one on 17th December, 1946, arguing that the opening resolution would guarantee Muslim Leaugue non participation. It's a masterpiece of lawyerly argument. (4)

Another thrilling discovery is hearing Jaipal Singh Munda's voice (4), one of the five tribal members in the assembly and as he says "we are the real owners of India" (5)

"Let the British quit, and then the later intruders quit, and then only the real aboriginal people of India will be left behind". Noting that Dr Prasad comes from a state with a significant tribal population, hopes they get a special hearing (6)

Finally hearing Hansa Mehta presenting the flag to the nation on behalf of Indian women (7)

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee also arguing that the Constituent Assembly not begin it's deliberations until the Muslim League and the Indian princes are able to join (8)

There's Frank Anthony, Patel, Prasad and Nehru, largely from the Dec 16-17 hearings. But I'll leave you with Sucheta Kripalani singing "Saree Jahan Se Acha" on August 15 (9)

I am eagerly hoping for more. Rajya Sabha TV had produced a very detailed series with a galaxy of fine actors but it doesn't come close to the beauty and force of the original speeches (10)

@CLPRtrust something to add to your excellent resource on the debates

Thank you @centralarchives for the excellent work you are doing. I hope you will be making more of this available.

Oh wait, there's Nehru making his tryst with Destiny Speech in Hindustani (and it is SO MUCH better than the English version)

Vijaylakshmi Pandit talking about the dream of One World, and India's role in the leadership of Asia and the World. (12)
@ManuBhagavan

Minoo Masani, "it is fashionable in our time to argue that social and economic changes cannot be made unless individual liberties and democracy are first destroyed and an all powerful state can push its program through, THIS resolution refutes that thesis (13)

"The central problem of our times is whether the state own's the people, or the people own the state" The development of the individual is the main aim of our social good @Aditya_Balasub @srajagopalan

Prof N.G Ranga ", we have been able to reiterate our right to rise against injustices to go against any particular law or system of laws" (14)

".. only in that way can the civil liberties of the people and also all their personal and individual rights be maintained. The State as well as human beings are liable to err and there must be some safeguard against their mistakes, and the only safeguard t will be satyagraha."

N.G Ayyangar lives up the image of the dry, cautious, careful civil servant. Politely rebuts Ambedkar, Mukherjee, Jayakar, Anthony. Also enunciates every word very slowly. Please do not cause unnecessary delays(15)

And Purushottam Das Tandon, a partisan in the debates for making Hindi the national language, cow protectionist and opposition to Nehru is speaking beautiful Hindustani and refers to India as both Hind and Bharat. History is Tareekh and Itihaas. (16)

Final takeaways. 1) find the text of the debates and details of the members here https://www.constitutionofindia.net/  curated by @CLPRtrust 2) Please read the debates 3) Midnight youtubing can be surprisingly productive
(17)

Also if you want to know more about the history of radio and listening cultures in the India check out @tarikhistorias amazing scholarship