930 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
thereafter the declarant and all his minor children and their descendants shall in matters of succession and inheritance be governed by the Muhammadan law,”
Now, the argument of my hon. friend Shri Raj Bahadur cuts his own case, because this was not a law intended for the whole of India but was a law specially to safeguard the interests of a particular community. This section is an enabling provision. Cutchi Memons are not the only Musalmans in this country. The majority of Musalmans far outweigh the Cutchi Memons. When 99.9 recurring per cent, of Muslims follow the Shariat, why should a special provision be made for the Cutchi Memons? Therefore, this interjection from my hon. friend, far from helping him, helps the other side. Even if there is one instance, it is enough. Now, is it possible for you to enforce Buddhism on me or for me to impose Hinduism on another man? This Jaw of inheritance, marriage, succession etc. is based upon the same tenets. But if a person who got himself converted wanted to be governed by the ancient law which prevailed before his conversion, he was given an option to change over to the other law. Though he got himself converted, he had to convert himself voluntarily to the new legal institutions, changing one from the other. There was no coercion whatever. But without the suggested amendment, this Bill will be a piece of legislation which is of a coercive nature, bringing various other persons into its fold. So far as Hindus are concerned, if you want to marry out of the ancient law, there is the Civil Marriage Act. It was originally intended to apply to persons who had to declare that they were neither Hindus nor Christians nor Jains nor Parsis. Later on, it was changed. No two Christians could marry unless they disavow their religion. No two Muslims could marry unless they disavow their religion under the Civil Marriage Act. But we are always progressive. We are selfdenying. We are all-embracing even to the point of selfdestruction. We have amended this Act by saying that Hindus need not disavow their religion. Hindus, however they are married, may adopt the Civil Marriage Act.That is what we have done. What more is necessary ? Now you want to convert those people who follow the ancient law at the point of the byonet to your way of thinking. Why do you want me to change my religion? I have already quoted an instance where a special piece of legislation was made for the Cutchi Memons, a microscopic minority. It is because Dr. Ambedkar feels that a majority of us are archaic—to use the mildest word—that he