DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 33
which really considers that any change is an attack on Hindu religion. I would ask them to guard against these and go forward in spite of all this pressure.
There is no doubt that quite apart from the question of making any radical change in Hindu law, the necessity for consolidating the Hindu law was very urgent. Sir, the present day Hindu law is a maze; it is a jungle like the Tarai or Sunderbans in which all sorts of practices and traditions come up; in which all that puranic book and prevailing customs in many parts of India, in many regions and provinces, in many castes, sub-castes; sub-sub-castes come into play and which is naturally a paradise for lawyers. This to a certain extent might not have been undesirable, but it has grown to such an extent that the time has come when this maze of traditions and counter-traditions should be put an end to and we must rationalize and consolidate the law. This is quite apart from any question of changing the Hindu Law. So from both points of view, I consider that a bill of this kind is overdue.
I rather would warn the members of the Select Committee to see that the Bill is not delayed too much. Already the first Committee was appointed in 1944. The idea and some of the proposals about the Bill have been circulating for the last so many years and even now we find before us proposals which will circulate it the more. Now, I would like them to try to curb this period of discussion as little as possible and to bring this Bill before the House, the latest before the next session. Sir, I welcome this Bill.
*** Begum Aizaz Rasul** (U.P.: Muslim): Sir, I do not desire to take up much time of the House, because I know that the time is very limited, but I think I would be failing in my duty if I do not stand up and welcome the measure that has just been brought before the House by the Honourable the Law Minister. Sir, it is in the fitness of things that with the achievement of freedom in this country and the establishment of a National Government, a measure of this kind should have been brought before this House. I only hope that the Select Committee will not delay giving its report and that this House will have an opportunity of passing this measure into law and putting it on the statute book as early as possible.
- C.A. (Leg.) D., Vol. IV, 9th April 1948, p. 3648.