How was the term minority defined by different groups?
The term minority was defined differently by various groups during the Constituent Assembly debates. N.G. Ranga, a socialist leader of the peasant movement, urged that minorities should be interpreted in economic terms. He believed the real minorities were the poor and downtrodden masses of the country, not just religious or communal groups.
Ranga welcomed the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution but argued that these rights were meaningless for the poor unless conditions were created for their effective enjoyment. He stated that the poor needed protection, props, and a ladder to actually exercise their rights.
Meanwhile, others like Govind Ballabh Pant viewed minorities in the context of separate electorates, warning that such political isolation would be suicidal for minorities and prevent them from ever becoming an integral part of the nation.
Explanation
This answer addresses the 3-mark question by highlighting the two main perspectives on minorities found in the context: N.G. Ranga's economic interpretation and the political dimension raised during debates on separate electorates. The answer uses key quotations and concepts from the textbook while maintaining the word limit appropriate for a short answer.