DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 943
of the time and the adoption of a measure of this kind would do us harm, that it would harm Hindu society which would be irreparable. Then there are others who day in and day out criticise those who are responsible for this measure, and to them what matters is not what is being said, but who says it. These people have clouded the judgments of the masses also. It is well known that our masses are ignorant and they are tossed violently between these two extremes. It is also well known that when a country attains Independence, there is a natural desire felt by the people to have uniform laws and to codify their existing laws. This has synchronised with national awakening. This is not the first time that such a desire has been expressed by the Indian people, through their representatives in the Legislature. As early as 1921 there was a resolution to that effect by a Member from the Central Provinces. Shri K. J. Bagde and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was the then Law Member. The resolution was to the effect that all the various branches of the Hindu Law as then existing should be properly codified. From time to time this question was also raised in the Central Legislature and I find that as eminent a person as Shri Ganganath Jha has put a question on the floor of the House asking when the codification of Hindu Law would take place. We may note that that was also a period of national awakening and this desire to codify the law was being voiced at that time.
The option has been expressed that this Code should be made applicable to non-Hindus also, to Christians and Muslims and others also that there should be a common Civil Code. Articles in the Constitution have been referred to and it has been said that this Code violates some of those articles. But I am sure when the Civil Code comes up for consideration, these very same persons would come forward to say that this Civil Code violates article 44 which guarantees the liberty of thought or religion. That will be the objection raised, of that I have no doubt in my mind. The demand for a Civil Code, seems to be bogus and without any meaning.
If we apply our minds to the present condition of Hindu society we will find that there are various differences and divisions in various matters, in the matter of marriage, of adoption, of succession and soon. It is impossible for the country to make any progress unless there is some codification of these various laws. So far as other sections of society are concerned they have this in some measure. For instance, Christian and Muslim women have some rights and privileges which.