592 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
that comparatively Mitakshra law was intended to serve the needs of ancient rural communities whose main property was agricultural land. It was on the basis of that conception of society that the right of birth and the right of survivorship were evolved. But we are fast evolving out of that primitive community into a modern community in which property goes from the immovable to the movable property. You have immovable properties diminishing and movable properties increasing. Even immovable property is being converted into movable property, in the form of shares, cash savings deposits and government securities and other things. Therefore, we should adopt that system which is in tune with these changes from the tangible immovable property to intangible and notional property. Where property is largely intangible, this right of birth is really impracticable. You cannot enforce it. It will always be open to the father to dispose of securities or shares or movable property. It is not possible for a son to inherit a right in shares. It is possible for him to inherit a share in agricultural land, but it is not possible for him to inherit a right in cash securities or other movable property. That is why this Bill has given preference to the Dayabhaga system of law rather than the Mitakshra system of law : not because it had any disrespect to the twenty crores who are under the Mitakshara law, nor because it had any special preference to the Dayabhaga system of law. Today, the right of inheritance by birth and right of survivorship have become archaic and impractical institutions.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Primitive.
The Honourable Shri K. Santhanam : Either we drop them deliberately through legislation or they will be discontinued in an irregular and disorderly fashion.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : Follow Bengal in other respects also.
Some Honourable Members : Order, order.
Sjt. Rohini Kumar Chaudhari : On a point of order, Sir, what right has a Member to call ‘ order, order ‘. I find Shrimati Durgabai calling ‘order, order’.
Shrimati Renuka Ray (West Bengal : General): Is this a point of order ?
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am extremely glad to find that hon. Members are sharing the right of the Speaker along with me.
Sjt. Rohini Kumar Chaudhari : (rose).