DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 737
between the descendants of common parents. I see really no reason why on this subject any heat should be generated, as regards the recognition
of equal rights of daughters and sons in the matter of division of patrimony. Speaking for myself, I may say, I do not believe in any
property at all, and the sooner the day comes when property as a whole is abolished, when provision is made for everybody by the community, provision to see that everybody gets work and gets his or her wants or
requirements met, the sooner that day comes the better for the community. And this source of evil, a learned lawyer called it the source
of strife, I call it this property which is the source of evil, I say that property should be abolished, and the sooner it is done the better it would be for the community and for legislations of this kind. If it were possible
at this stage to suggest an amendment of the kind I like, I would even suggest that all clauses relating to property be abolished or deleted and
a simple proposition be inserted, that while property continues, property of any kind, both land or personal, it shall be equally divided. That would be sufficient for the time being and we ought to endeavour that the day
draws nigher and nigher when property as a whole will be abolished and everbody would have the same right to work, the same right to enjoy
a given standard of life as those who are advantageously situated with patrimonies in their hands.
On these two crucial issues therefore, one of marriage and the other of inheritance, I say that the Bill goes no further than what conditions
around us necessitate. If and while you maintain an individualistic society, if and while property remains to be the corner-stone of or the foundation of your social system, and the profit motive remains
the governing impulse of the social machine, so long I see no reason why there should be inequality. The equality should not be merely
nominal. Political equality, the right to vote would mean nothing so long as economic equality also is not assured to every human being, to every citizen of this country. One has heard a great deal and I was
very glad to hear it all that in the essence of Indian civilisation, in the essence of our social system, the highest honour is paid to womanhood.
If that is true—and I do not doubt it—then I do not see why mere sanction of equality in property should be excluded, if you are really so worshipful of womanhood, if you are so respectful
and reverential to womanhood, why do you hesitate at all to give her equal right to what after all, is mundane property, that which must