1016 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
cases there is saptapadi. I hope the modification which I have suggested will be acceptable regarding customary divorce. Originally it was the intention that all custom should be wiped out altogether. I am glad that Dr. Ambedkar has modified that stand but I am afraid he will have to modify it further. In one place where he had to explain his view point he said that custom must be such that it must be sensible, reasonable and satisfy certain other requirements. He expected custom to answer to standards of reasonableness. But what is reasonableness ? It can differ from man to man and from group to group. What may be regarded as reasonable by Dr. Ambedkar would be entirely unreasonable to Mr. Kamath or Pandit M. B. Bhargava….
Shri Kamath : Do you lump us together ?
Dr. Deshmukh : Oh, No ! Not jointly but severally. From the point of view of custom I must say that the learned doctor, must be willing to go a little further, because every custom has had a history and it is not arguable on the basis of reason. Originally the view of the sponsors of the Code was that custom, whatever it was, was bad. That was why they provided that all “custom” was bad and no custom will be recognised under any circumstances. The whole society was to be governed by the provisions in black and white of the Code and no variation of any kind was to be recognised. Fortunately you have come to a stage when you are prepared to recognise custom. But to what extent is the question ? On the one hand you say that it should be reasonable but in many instances this is a contradiction in terms…
Dr. Ambedkar : Why ?
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : It has to be reasonable before it is recognised.
Dr. Deshmukh : In customary marriage one of the things essential and recognised as a necessary ingredient is that the bride and bridegroom must take seven steps round the fire. I do not see any reason or reasonableness behind it. What function does it perform ? How does it help so far as the wedlock is concerned ?
Shri Kamath : It is symbolic.
Dr. Deshmukh : Similarly…..
Mr. Chairman : Is the hon. Member likely to continue his speech ?
Dr. Deshmukh : Yes, Sir, I will take sometime longer.
The House then adjourned till Half Past Eight of the clock on Tuesday, the 18th September, 1951.