620 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
uniformity but instead of uniformity and simplicity there will be complexity and confusion. To avoid such confusion it would be better that we wait till the new constitution is ushered in. Let us not be in a hurry. Personally I feel that this measure can be introduced and pursued after one or two general elections have taken place. Those general elections are bound to quicken the political consciousness of the villager and bring him into more effective contract with the working of the legislature. He will then be in a better position to influence legislation which vitally affects his interests. Therefore I submit that till such time comes, till there is some quickening of political consciousness among people, let us not thrust the legislation upon them.
I finally appeal to our enthusiastic friends who are the ardent champions of this legislation that by our over-enthusiasm let us not defeat our own object.
- Shri A. Karunakara Menon (Madras: General) : Sir, I rise to support this Bill, so far as it goes, with all my heart. It will no doubt go a great way to consolidate the Hindu society. The Hindu law as it exists today is only a conglomeration of several systems of law. We have declared in our Constitution that it shall be our aim to frame a uniform civil code applying to the whole territory of India. This Hindu Code will go a great way to assist in the evolution of this uniform code of law. I wish some Muslim friends introduce a law to codify the Mohammendan law also. The Christians have already a codified law. After these three codified laws are brought into existence it will be easy to pick out the uniform provisions of these three codes and try to accomplish the object that we have aimed at under the Constitution. This Bill is also welcome inasmuch as it will extend the rights of women.
But I have some complaints to make. This law is not as progressive as it ought to be as the people wish it to be. It is far behind in several respects the Marumakhattayam law that exists in my part of the country. We should not be dragged down from the position we are in at present. If amendments could be introduced in the Bill and if it could be made possible for us also to make use of the Bill, none would be more happy than us.
The provisions of the Bill as they stand at present have been conceived at from a patriarchal point of view. The provisions of the matriarchal system of law, wherever they are progressive, could be
- C.A. (Leg.) D., Vol. VI, Part II, 12th December 1949, pp. 504-506.