DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 709
Some Honourable Members : The House has already been adjourned.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : You are late. The House has already been adjourned
Shri A. Thanu Pillai : I am sorry. I did not know.
The Assembly then adjourned for Lunch till Half Past Two of the Clock
The Assembly re-assembled after lunch at Half Past Two of the Clock, Mr. Deputy Speaker (Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar) in the Chair.
Dr. Bakhshi Tek Chand : Sir, when the House rose, I was referring to the Acts passed in 1829 under the inspiration of Shri Ram Mohan Roy for the abolition of sati. Now as we all know, it was argued at that time that sati was a part of Hindu religion. It was said that sati was one of the essential features of our dharma and any interference with it would be an attack on Hindu religion. But the sense of the community prevailed, the law was passed and sati ceased to exist. This custom, as I was saying, was not a part of Hindu law. It was an innovation which has been introduced during the, what are called dark ages, or the medieval ages. Luckily that was removed by legislative enactment.
After that we had the 1850 Act for the removal of class disabilities so far as inheritance was concerned. If a person or the heir changed his religion the right of succession was not affected. That was the second great change that was made in Hindu law. Then came another very great reform in 1856 when the Widow Re-marriage Act was passed. For centuries it was believed that the Hindu religion did not permit the remarriage of widows.
Shri Mahavir Tyagi : May I know. Sir, if the Treasury Benches are represented.
The Honourable Shri K. C. Neogy (Minister of Commerce): Government is one and indivisible and so long as there is one Minister present I think he is competent to represent the whole Government.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I think it is always a healthy ambition for Members on the other side to come and sit over this side.
Dr. Bakhshi Tek Chand : As I was saying, widow re-marriage was considered to be an essential feature of Hindu religion and any suggestion to repeal that law or to enact a permissible legislation which