DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1037
that this will end society. But if this custom is available in 90 per cent. of the population and in spite of that society has continued to progress all these generations, I do not think the extension of it merely to the remaining five or ten per cent, is going to change the integrity of society. On the other hand, the consequences that will follow will all be for the good. In fact restricting marriages and all the old injuctions that you must not marry in the same gotra have good reasons behind them. These restrictions were due to considerations of eugenics. If that is the case with those injunctions, then these will have greater application if the boy or girl marries outside the caste. Then there will be greater virility in the race, better type of persons will come into existence. This is a matter which must be considered in an atmosphere of scientific understanding. This is not the time nor the occasion to dilate on this aspect of the question. I will only add that behind these injunctions against marriage between sapindas or sagotras there were eugenic considerations. They must be reassessed.
Shri A. C. Shukla (Madhya Pradesh) : An old man marrying a young woman, is it according to eugenics or not ?
Shri Gadgil : You should certainly stop an old man marrying a young girl.
Shri A. C. Shukla : What will be the position of the child born to an old man and a young woman ?
Shri Gadgil : It will be as healthy as possible.
The point is, all those laws or customs which definitely have affected the progressive character of Hindu society ought to go. Dr. S. P. Mookerjee made a reference to Brahmo Samaj, Sadhanan Samaj. From Raja Ram Mohan Roy, to Ranade, Tilak, Agarker there is a galaxy of social reformers of whom we are all proud. But why should the process stop there ? If what was done in the past was good we ought to follow? the same principles of progress. And if we follow that same line of advancement, why should you be afraid now ? Why should you think that because Manu was great, therefore there cannot be any man as great as Manu in the centuries that may roll after his death ? I think Mr. Ahmad is as great or as good as Yagnavalkya, only without a jenuva. Otherwise he is as good an interpreter. And Dr. Ambedkar is as great as Manu or Gargya.
An hon. Member : He is Manu.
Shri Gadgil : And I am as good as any other old citizen. And why should we feel that the present generation cannot undertake the task of