522 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Muslims have accepted it as part of their religion and will accept it so long as the majority do not think it is bad. So far as Hindus are concerned they have accepted their system and unless the majority are convinced that that system under which they have been thriving and been made so prominent, a system which has outlived many ravages of foreign invasions, unless they are convinced that that system is bad, there should be no interference. My point is that comparison between the Hindu sister and Muslim sister would be extremely dangerous, because their positions are not analogous and actually there are differentiating elements which arise from different histories, considerations and environments. Therefore, there is no simple analogy between the position of the Hindu sister and the Muslim sister. I think the effect of a daughter’s share must be considered dispassionately in all conceivable aspects. It is not a net gain to the daughter herself. It leads to fragmentation. I would not have referred to this in detail but for the fact that on 9th April when the Bill was sent to Select Committee, I referred to this mischievous tendency and Mrs. Hansa Mehta expressed surprise that the daughter’s share would lead to litigation or fragmentation of property. It is due to the fact that perhaps the mischief which we have experienced has fortunately not been experienced in the Hindu society. It is for this reason that there was a possibility of misunderstanding, and that is why I have referred to this matter. I submit, Sir, that the position of the daughter must be considered in the context of Hindu ideas and of Hindu families. Every one is affectionately disposed towards her. She is well married, and at the time of marriage various gifts are made, there is the dowry and besides that large properties too are sometimes given. And she is a welcome guest in her father’s house. But if you give her a share, then the relations between the brothers and sisters will no longer be one of affection, but it will turn into one of business, one of hostile and clashing interests. In fact, love will be extinct, if the daughters’ shares are allowed to penetrate the folds of Hindu society. Sir, these are some considerations which I believe should be considered dispassionately.
Shri Mahavir Tyagi : What is your experience ?
Mr. Speaker : Order, order.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : My experience is that we have become impoverished. If Hindu society thinks that impoverishment is a virtue they are welcome to accept the system. After all we hear talks of