572 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Why this inferiority complex about the status of the daughter in Hindu society ? I protest against its very implication. In fact, the daughter in Hindu society has got a very exalted and
12 NOON elevated position. Her marriage into a stranger’s family does not cut of her connections with the natural family of the father. On every occasion, on occasions of births, deaths, marriages and other occasions she has to come and perform certain essential ceremonies, and on those occasions the Hindu family has to make presents to the daughter. The daughter’s relations with her natural family continues all along. If she gives birth to a child, her brothers have to give her presents. Sir, I may further venture to assert that on the occasion of every marriage in the sister’s family, the marriage of a male or female child, the brothers have to make presents. Presents are so essential on every occasion. That being so how can it be said, Sir, that the daughter does not get anything from the property ? My submission is that the whole mental outlook with which this question is approached is diagonally wrong, if you consider it from the criterion of Hindu civilisation and Hindu ideals and ideas. Of course, if your criterion is not indigenous, if it is not Hindu, not Indian, but anti-Indian and anti-Hindu then of course, you must take the opposite view.
Now let us consider what is the result of giving a share to the daughter in the family patrimony. You can see the Muslim family. The inevitable result of giving this share in the patrimony would be that marriages between cousins will be absolutely common, and sooner or later marriages even within prohibited degrees will come into existence, whether you like it or not. This is what the inevitable consequence would be. If you trace the history of the daughter’s share in patrimony, in so many countries, in Egypt, in Greece, in Rome or under Islamic law, you will come to the conclusion, and the only conclusion, that if a share is to be given, then, you must necessarily widen the scope of the right to contract a marriage with first cousins. So far as the Hindu point of view is concerned, that would be a calamity which no Hindu family can tolerate.
I now proceed to the other point. Do you think, that by providing in this piece of legislation that a daughter has an equal share with the son, you will be carrying out what you intend to do, that is to say, you will be conferring any rights to property on the daughter ? I respectfully submit, Sir, that it is not. On the other hand, you will be letting loose and creating scope for so many evils. Under the law