412 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
at what we are doing. Let us not lay the flattering unction to our souls that we are doing a wise thing. I know I cannot deceive myself in the way in which you are doing. Even if it were wise, I would not have thought it necessary to attempt that codification, because of the reasons I have given. You cannot give any uniformity to it whatsoever; and if Hinduism is anything, it is because of its fundamental unity in the midst of diversity. That constitutes the essence of Hinduism. Hindu law and Hindu culture. In a vast country like this you cannot expect a uniformity standardized sort of life ignoring the natural variety. If you did it, it is no wonder that you would come to grief. You may not realize it just now, but realization would come when the time comes. After all even after this codification, is it going to serve your end ? I say : no. The honourable member from Mysore yesterday made a speech. He said, now the work has been made so simple that by buying a publication worth four annas or six annas you could know exactly what the Hindu law stood for. So many friends shout ‘quite right’ ‘quite right’, but do these enthusiasts realize that even the sponsor of the Bill does not pretend that he is going to codify the whole law of the Hindus ? In the preamble he makes a modest claim, not that kind of preposterous claim ; He says :
“Whereas it is expedient to amend and codify certain branches of the Hindu law now in force in the Province of India.” Therefore what is proposed to be done is to codify certain branches, such as the law of marriage, law of inheritance and law of adoption. Broadly speaking these are the main things.
Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi: What is left.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : My honourable friend asks what is left in the Hindu Law. Does my honourable friend think that this is all that the Hindu Law stands for ? These three branches cover the entire field of Hindu life and activity in this country? I can only sympathise with his ignorance. What about joint family property, partition, joint family business, religious and charitable trusts, gifts, transfer inter vivos, and other things ? They constitute a much vaster field which is left uncovered.
Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi: Wills is also referred to.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : A mere reference to Wills does not mean that it has received a full and comprehensive treatment. In any case, I am grateful to Dr. Ambedkar. He is modest; he never claims to have brought forward an exhaustive Code. If my honourable friends