134 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
I think, the ought to have avoided .................I am not here to defend everything Hindu that exists. I am not here to appologize for the many prejudices or superstitions, which I am sadly conscious are to be found among one portion or another of our community. But it is not the Hindu community alone which finds it difficult to get rid of prejudices ......... Without meaning the smallest disrespect, I would instance the case of the marriage with a Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill ........ We Hindus have got some much worse prejudices to fight against .......... But I do not think it is within the province of a member of this Council either to lecture to the Hindus present here or to those outside as to the socio-religious disabilities among themselves which they might fight against and remove. I think the province of Members of this Council is limited to dealing with matters of legislation or other administrative matters which may properly be taken up by the Government. As has been already pointed out, the Government have, in pursuance of a wise and liberal policy, laid it down that they shall not interfere in matters of a religious or socio-religious character, and accusations of the character in question ought, therefore, to be avoided there ........................... I do not wish to descend into a disputation as to the merits of the imputations or the justification for the general observations that have been made ................ And yet, if I do not, I am left in the position that I have heard without protest remarks showing that the Hindu Community from one end of the country to the other was guilty of all that my friend, the Hon’ble Mover of the Resolution, has suggested ....................... I am conscious that we Hindus have many prejudices to fight against and conquer; but I submit that this is not the place to tell us of them.”
Even a social Reformer like Sir Surendranath Bannerjee was not happy. He said :—
“....................I regret very much that my Hon’ble friend the Mover of this Resolution went somewhat out of his way to level (I do not think he did it intentionally) an attack against the Hindu Community. He must bear in mind that we are the inheritors of past traditions, of a civilization as ancient as the world. That civilization undoubtedly had its defects, but that civilization in the morning of the world was the guarantee for law and order and social stability. In the past it afforded consolation to millions. We are trying to evolve a national system in conformity with our present environments, but we cannot push aside all those things which have come down to us from the past. We reverence the venerable fabric which has been built up by our ancestors. We notice their defects, and we are anxious to get rid of them gradually and steadily, not by any revolutionary movement, but the slow, steady process of evolution. My friend must have a little sympathy with us ; he must extend to us the hand of generosity in our efforts to deal with the problems. My Hon’ble friend suggests that Government should take measures................... We welcome