904 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
very sound arguments at all time, some of them most difficult, both here and in the Constituent Assembly. But yesterday, he started his speech hitting right and left and calling those who had moved amendments and made speeches in support of them as being absurd and if I remember right, as being foolish and……
Pandit M. B. Bhargava (Ajmer) : And devoid of commonsense.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : Yes, and devoid of commonsense. Well, though I did not like it, and though it hurt me, still as one who does not agree with him in getting this Hindu Code passed as it is, I felt a little happy that the author of the Bill was so nervous that he was not stable at all.
Shri J. R. Kapoor (Uttar Pradesh) : When the case is poor, abuse the adversary.
Mr. Speaker : Order, order.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : Now, it we scrutinise the provisions of the law carefully, we will find that there are really some tremendous difficulties which the mere passing of this Code is not likely to solve.
[M R . D EPUTY -S PEAKER in the Chair.]
After all, a social reform has to keep not merely, the individual but the whole society in view. And if certain provisions of this Code are given effect to, without any consideration to the particular manner in which society has been running for a long time, it will end in breaking up society as it is today. Therefore, I submit that it is necessary that this Code, if passed at all, should be permissive so that people who would like to be governed by it may do so with their eyes wide open.
Let us also see, what was the original intention of those who decided to have a Hindu Code. I will refer you, Sir, and the House to an important recommendation of the Hindu Law Committee popularly called as the Rau Committee. At page 13 of their report in paragraph 50, they say :
“Most of the provisions in the Code are of a permissive or enabling nature, and impose no sort of compulsion or obligation whatever on the orthodox. Their only effect is to give a growing body of Hindus, men and women, the liberty to live the lives which they wish to lead without in anyway affecting or infringing the similar liberty of those who prefer to adhere to the old ways”.
This recommendation, I submit, is very clear and it was made after the Committee had toured round the whole country and ascertained the views of the Hindu community. This recommendation must have