DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 625
Shri M. Tirumala Rao : May I say that ladies of the older generation also are supporting you ?
Shri Sita Ram S. Jajoo : Yes, because they are progressive, because they want to progress. In the words of my friend Mr. Krishna Chandra Sharma, they are more progressive and going forward whereas the men are going backward. Any way, I am concerned with the Hindu Code Bill as it stands today.
Madam, I would not have spoken but for the fact that I can represent the views of the younger generation here, and I can confidently say that the younger generation in the country stands by the Hindu Code. Much ado has been made about the fact that this Bill has not been circulated for public opinion in the Indian States. I want to say that there have been many Bills which we have passed in this House, but at that time nobody raised his little finger and said that those Bills were not circulated for eliciting public opinion in the Indian States.
Some Honourable Members : But this is such a controversial Bill.
Shri Sita Ram S. Jajoo : There have been so many controversial Bills. The question of Sirohi was most controversial but the States people were not consulted on it.
Shri Gokulbhai Daulatram Bhatt (Bombay States): Madam, there was no Bill connected with Sirohi.
Mr. Chairman : May I request hon. Members to allow the speaker to go on uniterrupted ?
Sardar Hukam Singh : Is it not for the elders to correct if the younger generation goes astray ?
Shri Sita Ram S. Jajoo : They are definitely in their rigits to control and guide the younger generation, but that must be towards progress, it should not be a retrogade step.
An Honourable Member : Our experience extends upto 80 years.
Shri Sita Ram S. Jajoo : The experience of 80 years may be there ; but the experience of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, is also there. There are volumes of books containing the articles by him from time to time in favour of the elevation of the Hindu women. And so far as the Hindu Code is concerned, I have heard from many of the staunch opponents that they won’t mind if the whole Code is passed excepting the provision regarding inheritance and the sharing with daughters and sisters. It has been opposed mostly by the community, to which I also belong, the Marwari community. But I