DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1017
*HINDU CODE— contd..
Clause 2. —( Application of Code )— Contd.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The house will now proceed with the further consideration of the Bill to amend and codify certain branches of the Hindu Law as reported by the Select Committee.
Dr. Deshmukh (Madhya Pradesh) : Sir, between the time I left my speech incomplete yesterday and now, two fine ladies who did not share...
Shri Sondhi (Punjab) : What is meant by “fine ladies” ?
Dr. Deshmukh : Two cultured and....
Shri Sondhi : You may say modern ladies.
Dr. Deshmukh : No, not so modern as we are accustomed to see. As I was saying, these ladies placed before me very strongly and sincerely their point of view. It was clear they viewed the Bill from a different angle. And while the Hon. Prime Minister is here I may also say that these ladies complained that their point of view has never received adequate consideration at the hands of the Prime Minister, and that there have been attempts made to come in the way of his being informed of the strength of their feelings and the view point that they wished to present before him. If this is a fact, and if it is not too late to do so, I would feel much obliged if these ladies could call upon the Prime Minister to place before him their point of view. They are entirely opposed to the Hindu Code Bill in any shape or form, including the provisions relating to divorce and monogamy. They say that it is an attack on Hinduism and on Hindu religion which will be not for the good of anyone. They also contend that essentially these are radical changes and these are sponsored by a few...
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : For my own enlightenment, I would like the hon. Member to say what he means by “they”. I could not hear the opening part of his sentence.
An Hon. Member : Two fine ladies, he said.
Shrimati Durgabai (Madras) : Will the hon. Member give us the names of these ladies for the benefit of hon. Members, because this may reflect on many ladies who are not of that opinion.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Two ladies do not cover the entire world.
*P.D., Vol. XV, Part II, 18th September 1951, pp. 2742-50.