750 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
if it is not properly used by the husband. I feel Sir, that some clause must be inserted so that the stridhana may always remain the property of the woman.
Clause 72 which deals with adoption says: “No adoption which has been validly made can be cancelled by the adoptive father or mother or any other person, nor can the adopted son renounce his status as such and return to the family of his birth.” I think, Sir, if the son or anybody who is adopted were to misbehave and squander the money of the family, there must be a saving clause whereby such a thing could be prevented.
Section 93 deals with the dowry to be held in trust for wife and says that it shall come into force after the commencement of this Code. I feel, Sir, that section must apply to all cases existing before the commencement of the Code.
Sir, I would finally point out that bringing this Hindu Code into force will greatly relieve all those women who are under the harsh treatment of men. Many people have been saying that the women are enjoying equal privileges and facilities. But in reality it is not so. In a few cases it may be so. But about 90 per cent of the women are still suffering from many social hardships. Out of the four yugas, Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, we are now in the fourth yugam, iron age and are strong to bring in reforms. We must see that the women enjoy as many facilities as men. It is said that the hand that rock the cradle shall win the world. Before they grasp forcibly these facilities let us give them peacefully. I, therefore, support the Hindu Code Bill that has been brought by this Government and when it has come into fruition I might say that my hon. friend Dr. Ambedkar who has taken so much of trouble would have added a further feather to his hat.
- Shri O. V. Alagesan ( Madras : General) : Sir, yesterday Dr. Ambedkar said that he was very glad that it had fallen to his lot to pilot this Bill. Sir, his name is sure to go down in history as the able midwife that assisted at the birth of the Constitution of free India. Sir, he is ambitious. He wants to add a further feather to his cap and he is justified. His ambition is to supersede the ancient rishis, Manu, Yajnavalkya and a host of other ancient law givers.
*C.A. (Leg.) D., Vol. VI, Part II, 14th December 1949, pp. 614-21.