588 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
we were making the Constitution there were many who were asking . why we continued to have provinces, why we were building on the Government of India Act and why we were continuing to have Rajpramukhs ? Sir, our argument in reply was that while we wanted change and reform we wanted to build, as far as possible, on the existing foundations, that we wanted a judicious combination of conservation of the existing forces and the forces that make for change and reform. This Bill is based on the same principle. It seeks to conserve as much of the Hindu law as is consistent with modern needs and ideas and it seeks to change wherever such change is necessary. I think that is the only way the whole country as well as the Hindu society can progress without internal disruptions and violent revolutions. Sir, our policy is one of peaceful and voluntary change and this Bill is a notable attempt in that process of peaceful change in the social sphere.
Sir, I don’s want to go into the clauses of the Bill. The time is not yet ripe for it and when we take up clause by clause it will be time to scrutinise particular provisions.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : That stage will not come.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : Well, let us see.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Not unless there are elaborate lathi charges outside.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : There were people who were prophesying that the Constitution would never be passed ; but we have passed it. In the same way, we are going to put this Bill on the Statute Book.
Sir, I am not saying that certain clauses, or even parts are not susceptible of slight changes or adjustments.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Slight!
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : But I shall confine myself to the broad principles contained in the Bill and, leave details to a future occasion.
Sir, this Bill has got four aspects, namely, codification, unification, rationalisation and reform.
Sjt. Rohini Kumar Chaudhuri (Assam: General) - And falsification too.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : Well, I will leave that part to you. So far as the parts dealing with adoption, with minority, with guardianship and with maintenance are concerned, they are simply