DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 903
the Mover, was archaic. Therefore, although I may congratulate the Hon. Law Minister for evolving a new religion which it is left to posterity to adopt or not to adopt, so far as present conditions are concerned, I must certainly warn him and Government that it would be a suicidal policy to make it an obligatory legislation.
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : We are prepared to commit suicide.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : This reform can only be considered either as a social reform or a religious reform. If it is a social reform, I don’t see why the Hon. The Law Minister entered a caveat yesterday when some hon. Member suggested that it should be made all pervading. In that connection he urged that we ought to have consideration and regard for the sentiments and feelings of non-Hindus in this country. I am really surprised that while he advocated that for the non-Hindus, he does not seem at present to have any regard for the feelings of Hindus in this matter. Speaker after speaker in this House, coming from different parts of the country, belonging to certain different sects or certain sections of the Hindu community, have explained how they feel about the application of the provisions of this Code to them. Therefore, while this reform may, in the opinion of some, be called for, and urgently called for, yet, I do submit that it will not be fair to make it an obligatory legislation. I have, therefore, great pleasure in according my support to the amendment of Shri Jaspat Roy Kapoor who suggests that it should be left open to members of the Hindu community, or for the matter of that of any other community, to accept this Code and register their will to be governed by it. If on the other hand it is held that it is some type of a religious legislation, then I think Dr. Ambedkar will concede that this is neither the appropriate time nor even proper for a secular State to attempt some kind of a religious legislation. I consider that this reform is of a social nature. And from time of which we have any record, we have known that these social reforms have to be of a permissive nature so that people may be able to adopt them with pleasure. In civilised life, even conversion by force is not permissible, and I am sure Dr. Ambedkar will not make any attempt at forcible conversion to the religion which he propagates now through this Hindu Code.
When the Minister of Law started his speech yesterday—he will Pardon my saying so—I think he was a little nervous about
12 Noon his case, because normally he is not opt to go about hitting right and left. He has given this House the very good example of