908 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
over the matter and having considered the whole matter if they think it is for the betterment of the country, for the betterment of the society, they will accept it. But do not for God’s sake make it obligatory.
Shri R. Velayudhan (Travancore-Cochin) : Then what is the meaning of a legislation ? Why have it ?
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : I will explain to you presently what is the meaning of legislation. You are perhaps fresh to a legislature. Otherwise you would not have asked that question. Anyway I will reply to you in a few minutes.
Shri R. Velayudhan : I have read the Hindu Code.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : You have read the Hindu Code. That is good enough. Then you will go to heaven straight.
If you look at the legislation and the different parts of it, you will find that on various details certain exceptions have been made in the Code itself. Now, the Code excludes in certain respects the two communities following Marumakkattayam and Aliyasantana laws. And yesterday the Hon. Law Minister said that he was omitting sub-clause (4) to allow some type of married men to be governed by the Succession Act, that is those who were married under the Special Marriages Act.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : He said it was more liberal.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : Well, if it is more liberal for them I do not see why the more liberal law should not be good for everybody. He is codifying the Hindu Law—not laying down any new but bringing up-to-date in certain respects the existing laws and bringing in some reforms. If you want you can be more liberal—who prevents you ? But after all, if you claim that one of the main purposes of this Act in the first place is to codify the Hindu Law, keeping in view the different rulings and different interpretations and making the best use of them and also introducing progressive reforms—if that is so then I don’t see why you should have one set of succession laws for one class of married Hindus and another set for another class. If you want to do it, do it. There is no use saying that such of our friends here who advocate the passing of a Civil Code do not really want it. Pardon me for saying so, but let me assure the Hon. Law Minister that it is not so. The feeling is that if you want to put the whole country on a certain basis even if it meant some sacrifice, do so and we will gladly accept it. But you pick and choose and single out one community who perhaps would not be prepared to fight with you on that issue.