DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 541
than what, I am doing. In the present opinion he has opposed the Bill and the Honourable Minister evidently had his earlier writing in view and that is taken advantage of by the majority Members. I submit that the reason for the change of opinion has been given by Dr. D. N. Mitter himself. If change of opinion is a crime, blind adherence to an opinion, although it is proved to be wrong, is a worse crime than change of opinion based on reason. Dr. Mitter clearly expressed an opinion in favour of giving more rights to women. I have read the passage in Appendix II that the Government gave an undertaking to the people that the Bill will be re-shaped in accordance with public opinion. That was the thing that trouble Dr. Mitter. In fact, he found that his individual opinion was far ahead of public opinion in India which was definitely against it. So he has referred to this passage in the notification declaring the intention of Government to change the law in accordance with public opinion. Dr. Mitter was faced with a volume of opinion against the Bill and he changed his opinion. This is a legislation which affected the whole country and it was this reason which induced him to go against the Bill, because this is the public opinion. There is no illogicality in giving up one’s personal opinion in deference to public opinion. I believe the Honourable Minister and other Ministers too have their personal opinions, but they have to subordinate them for the collective good. We have often heard Ministers speaking against their personal conviction. This is neither improper nor wrong. It is perfectly natural. Here Dr. D. N. Mitter had accepted a position of great public responsibility with the express object of ascertaining public opinion and changing and re-shaping the Bill in accordance therewith. I ask : is there anything improper if Dr. D. N. Mitter changed his opinion ? He accepted a job, and what was it ? To ascertain public opinion, and public opinion was against the Bill. He himself was present when the evidence was taken and there is one passage in the report on oral evidence which is very significant which has been specifically referred to. When the Committee was in Lahore and was sitting...
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They were greeted with black flags ?
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : No black flags ; something more. A large number of ladies, thousands—I do not remember the exact number—I do not wish to trouble the House with the exact number.
Mr. Speaker : What year was it in ?