236 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
preached that cult and from the very beginning they advocated that there was no caste by birth, Arya Samajists also had to suffer from the same disability from which other people are suffering today.
It was after many years of struggle that the Arya Marriage Validation Act was passed. But, I find public opinion amongst Hindu has also advanced sufficiently and not only Arya Samajists but today many more Hindus do not recognise the artificial barriers placed by the caste system based on birth. Therefore, there is no reason why they should be forced to have recourse to the Arya Marriage Validation Act or to the Civil Marriage Act. Today, when public opinion has advanced, and when the caste barriers that have stood in the way of the solidarity of the Hindus and in the way of creating a national feeling, have gone, I feel the passage of a measure like this should not be delayed.
There may of course be some point in saying that the Hindu Code is coming and therefore we should not have any piecemeal legislation. But along with many of my friends I too believe that a measure of this nature, which is in no way opposed to the reformist ideas contained in the Hindu Code, should not be delayed. Although, my honourable friend Dr. Ambedkar would like the Hindu Code to be passed into law this very session, many of us do not share that view. It may take time. After all, that is a very important measure and has got many controversial clauses. Therefore, I would urge that this measure should be welcomed by us and its passage should not be delayed.
I wholeheartedly support the motion moved by my honourable friend Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava and I hope Dr. Ambedkar will also accept it and that the house will pass this small measure which is of great importance to Hindu Society, in this very session.
Dr. Bakhshi Tek Chand (East Punjab : General): I wholeheartedly support the motion which Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava has made for referring this Bill to the Select Committee. The Bill has so far received support from various quarters of the House and I do hope that not a single discordant note will be raised against it.
The Bill, if I may say so, is no new measure. A Bill almost on identical terms was introduced in the old Imperial Legislative Council as it was then called, in 1919 by the late Mr. Vitthalbhai Patel. That Bill was circulated for opinion. Of course, different opinions were expressed, the orthodox element opposing it, officials opposing it and a number of persons and societies supporting it. But, before the Bill could come up for consideration before the Council, the Montagu