DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1013
concerned, I think it should be the endeavour of every Member of Parliament to support the Bill; wherever it is found that our social structure is likely to suffer, and where it has led to a good deal of inconvenience and trouble, those reforms ought to be taken up and there should be no compromise with any orthodoxy.
1.00 P . M .
Shri Kamath : While we would like to hear the hon. Member, there was a half-hour discussion to be taken up at one o’clock ....
Mr. Chairman : That has been postponed.
Shri Kamath : We have had no notice.
Mr. Chairman : It has been struck out here:
Dr. Deshmukh : So far as removal of difficulties and hardships is concerned, I am prepared to go even farther than the sponsors of the Bill. The prohibition of polygamy and introduction and enforcement of monogamy are extremely desirable reforms. I also agree that it is time that the Hindu society provided for divorce under the law. There maybe some restrictions imposed ; but I do not think it is possible to shut our eyes to the instances and facts which come to our notice. It maybe a thing which my orthodox and sanatani friends may dislike. Of course, many of them dislike any change whatever. Unfortunately that is the position. Here, I must clear a misunderstanding. I have been regarded by some sanatani friends as a staunch opponent of the Bill on all points and in every respect. It is therefore that I have prefaced my remaks with the remarks that my hon. friend Pandit Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava will probably not welcome what I was going to say today. The provisions should, however, be confined to these two aspects.
Further, I would like some provision by which we can better the conditions of our widows. I have seen a great number of instances where they are undergoing inhuman suffering. So far as widows’ rights to property are concerned, we have had amending Bills. We have passed certain laws. But, to my knowledge, they have not benefited those for whom they were intended. I would like to persuade the hon. Members of the House that we should make some provision so far as they are concerned.
Shri Bharati : We are not discussing that now.
Dr. Deshmukh : I do not know if any announcement has been made in the House whether we are going to leave out of consideration those other sections and confine ourselves to only these things viz., marriage and divorce. Because I was not here, I do not know what decision has been taken.