298 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
not be any harm if instead of making any change in the Hindu Law at present, we do this even three years hence. This is a subject over which the whole country has got to think; all of us have to think, all of those who are sitting here have to think and those who are likely to occupy these seats in this House in the future shall have to think. Therefore, I feel that there is a good deal of force in the arguments advanced by the second group that it is neither the proper time nor the place to bring forth such a measure, and for this reason, I would urge that we should consider this aspect.
Just as I have stated, even the supporters of this Bill can be divided into two groups, one which does not at all like to see any of our old traditions, and does not want to recognise the fact that this country is one of the ancient countries having a brilliant past, glorious history, high culture and great traditions. Such type of reformers do not at all care as to what our past heritage is and how are we to reconstruct our country today ? These reformers have been considerably influenced by the Western education, and have scant regard for the ancient history, culture and even the old traditions in the sphere of social reforms. I would like to say that if such sort of reforms are introduced in this ancient country, this Bharatvarsha (India) will not longer remain as Bharatvarsha —but it would become something else. The other group of reformers is that which believe in the necessity of reforms being introduced but after having due regard to our ancient history, culture and traditions. I do not belong to the first group but to the second. I admit that it has become absolutely necessary to introduce reforms, but in spite of all this, we should carry out the reforms after keeping in view our old traditions, ancient culture and civilisation.
At this time when we are framing our Constitution, when we have already passed the clauses relating to the fundamental and justiciable rights and when it is hoped that our Constitution will be finally adopted sometime during the period intervening between the 16th of May and
15th of August next, it would have been quite in order had this measure been brought forth in consonance with the provisions of the new Constitution. Today when we call our country a ‘ Secular State ’, when we admit that all the persons in this country—whatever religion they believe in, to whatever community they may belong, may be Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi—whoever he may be—he should be given equal rights of citizenship. Therefore, I would say that the Honourable