740 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
it has resulted in a majority at birth being reduced to a minority on the whole, so that that charges of unequal treatment must be faced. Here is a Bill which tries to remove that. There are many provisions in the Bill which may not satisfy everybody, even those who on principle accept the Bill, even those who realise that it goes a great way forward in rationalising our society, simplifying our legislation and organising our social system to a given end. But we are not discussing details just now. Specific provisions apart, the principle underlying the Bill, the motive spring of the entire structure should commend itself to the House and I trust the House will accept it.
Shri Lakshminarayan Sahu (Orissa : General): (English translation of the above speech) I would like to say, Sir, that I did not mention this thing as a joke that there are more women in Utkal. The number of women in Utkal exceeds by three to four lakhs and when it is not possible to find out a match for their marriage, then they are married to a Sahada tree.
Prof. K. T. Shah : I am speaking of the whole country and not of any particular province. Therefore it is not necessary for me to answer this particular question. Let it be left there.
*Sardar Hukam Singh (East Punjab : Sikh): Sir, at this late stage of the debate, I feel it is not very easy to advance fresh arguments or make new points on the subject on which so many distinguished lawyers and eminent scholars have taken part for so many days. But as I have been called as a representative of a particular community to which this Bill applies, I must say something which should represent the feelings of my community so far as this particular code is concerned.
I do not agree with my learned friend Prof. Shah when he said that he wants to speak only as an Indian. I would have gladly repeated the same phrase, had this code applied to every citizen of India but as it stands it applies to certain communities only. Therefore I feel and believe that I have a right and a duty to speak on behalf of my community.
*C.A. (leg.) D., Vol. VI, Part II, 14th December 1949, pp. 607-10.