DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 587
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The Chair has no right to make up its mind in advance. It is now 1 o’clock and the House stands adjourned till 2-30 p.m.
The Assembly then adjourned for Lunch till Half Past two of the Clock.
The Assembly re-assembled at Half Past Two of the Clock, Mr. Deputy Speaker (Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar) in the Chair.
HINDU CODE — Contd.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : Sir, I rise to offer my wholehearted support to the Hindu Code as it has emerged from the Select Committee. Sir, I have been watching the progress of this lawmaking from its earliest beginnings. I had the privilege of tendering evidence before the Rau Committee and since it has emerged from that Committee it has undergone many changes and, in my view, steady improvement.
Sir, I feel that this Hindu Code is merely a continuation, in the social sphere, of the great Constitution we have completed the other day in our capacity as a constitution-making body. Sir, what are the basic factors of that Constitution ? It is based on the unification, on the integration and on the strengthening of India as one political entity. Similarly this Bill is based on the principles of unification, integration and strengthening of the Hindu community. Sir, unless the Hindu community is unified, integrated and strengthened, I do not see how the great Constitution we have made can be successfully worked.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Unified by divorce ?
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : The idea that politically you can be well-advanced, that in the field of economics you can preach socialism, but yet be a believer in social stagnation is wholly incompatible and unrealistic. India has to move on all fronts, or not at all and I think the change and reform in the social sphere is as indispensable as our progress in the political and economic spheres.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Democracy in marriage also ?
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : My hon. friends may well ask why we should not compile a code for the whole country rather than a unified code for the Hindu community alone. Well, Sir, while