376 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
This is the test, this is the criterion, this is the standard, this is the yardstick for equality of human beings, whether high or low, rich or poor, man or woman.
Well, Sir, I do not subscribe to that notion of inequality propounded by the Swami On the other hand, I also do not believe that woman— as some of them do today—attain equality with men by taking to smoking and drinking. That again. Sir, is something which is to be deprecated if by that they seek equality with man. Nor do I subscribe to the progressive conception of woman—progressive in the Western sense—who, perhaps in imitation of the West and so trying to be progrsssive, take to ball-room dancing and other Western habits. This, Sir, is also to my mind no way of securing equality with man.
Shrimati Purnima Banerjee (U. P.: General): It is not included in the Hindu Code. Does she dance alone without a partner?
Shri H. V. Kumuth : I know that but we are talking of the equality of man and woman. And here, Sir, our great savant and philosopher, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who is an authority on Hindu dharma and Hindu way of life, says :
“The modern woman, if I may say so, is losing her self-re sped. She does not respect her own individuality and uniqueness, but is paying an unconscious tribute to man by trying to imitate him. She is fast becoming masculine and mechanical.
Shri R. K. Sidhva (C. P. and Derar: General): What about the modern man ?
Shri H. V. Kamath : I hope, Sir, our women will take this to heart and will not undertake such attempts at equality with man.
Shreemati Annie Masearene (Travancore State): May I ask the question whether modern man is in any way better than that ?
Shri H. V. Kamath : That is for women to answer.
Well, Sir, when I therefore talk of equality between men and women I
have before me the historical examples of Sita, Savitri, Damayanti, Gargi,
Maitreyi and Ubhayabharati. Will you permit me to read from our own
ancient hisiory about these women and the place these women occupied in
our ancient Vedic times and even later, on which so many of our opponents
to the Hindu Code depend today ? It is said that in the Vedic and Upanishadic
age, women occupied a very high place in society. Among the exceptional women
of Upanishadic times the name of Maitreyi stands out in bold relief. The lustre
of her spiritual mind illumines the world even today. For sheer intelectual
acumen two women stand out in singular brilliance. An All-India religious