DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 349
very great thought to it—I have only submitted it for the consideration of the entire House and for the consideration of Dr. Ambedkar—I do not know how it will affect other interests—there may be flaws and I do not vouch for it—but I consider, at the same time, that it will be a better arrangement than the present arrangement. The theory is that an unmarried daughter succeeds simultaneously equally with the son. The woman on marriage becomes joint owner in husband’s property as husband would be joint owner in her property, then both succeed in husband’s family.
Then, again, Sir, what would happen to the brother’s son ? and the sister’s son ? They are both on the same level. The brother’s son lives in the same house probably or next door and does service everyday ; the sister’s son lives at Allahabad or Madras or some other place. How will they be equal. In regard to other provisions also.—I want to be brief.—If the House wishes me to go into the other provisions also, I am perfectly prepared and I have got full notes about the changes and how they affect us—but I would be taking up the time or the House in such a manner as to deprive the other members of their opportunity.
Honourable Members : You may go on.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : There are many other considerations which go to show that this provision in clause (2) is not well founded either from the point of view of consanguinity or religious efficacy and even from the point of view of natural affection and love.
Next, I come to the succession of the female. After the Hindu Code Bill comes into vogue, the lady succeeds to the property of the father as well as to the property of the husband. Suppose the lady dies leaving husband and children, it is clear that the husband has been given the right and the children also succeed. So far so good. Then, when the husband and the children are not there, who succeeds ? The father and mother of the lady. These people—there are lakhs like them—who do not even want to touch water from the house of the daughter, will get the property. (Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharati: “Why” You cannot understand this ; it is my difficulty. You cannot realise this. May I submit, Sir, that as soon as the father gives away the daughter to the son-in-law, the father never goes to the house of the daughter, never takes his food in her house and never even drinks water in her house, so that the purity is maintained that no daughter may be