1048 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The law in Baroda has probably been in force for a much longer time than in the States of Bombay and Madras. But it appears from the evidence given before the Hindu Law Committee that both in 1940-41 and 1941-42 the number of suits by persons belonging to castes in which custom does not allow divorce was three only. My hon. friend Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee said yesterday that if 90 per cent, of the people could already get divorce, where was the need for bringing the remaining ten per cent, who were following a higher law and who regard marriage as indissoluble. Well, I am sorry that he is not in his place. But I should like to point this out to him.
Besides, we all know what is happening in Hindu society. If a husband drinks and beats his wife, or deserts her, is this a sacramental act ? Is this in accordance with the sacred character of Hindu marriage ? An hon. member behind me ask : “Why not check it ?”
Pandit Maitra : There are also wives who beat their husbands.
Pandit Kunzru : I do not say that the wives are impeccable. Wives have their own faults, but the law will apply not merely to wives but also to husbands. In view of this it is idle to claim that the upper strata of Hindu society, that is men belonging to the Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya castes have a higher ideal than the members of the other castes.
Again, it has been said that this Bill has caused a great deal of perturbation in Hindu society. I find that this is due to the fact that people are misinformed with regard to the provisions of the Bill. When the provisions are explained to them a good many of their misapprehensions disappear, and I have no doubt that if those who assiduously voice the fears of the people in this House will take a little trouble to explain what its provisions really are…..
Pandit Maitra : Let the government do it.
Pandit Kunzru : ……much of the dissatisfaction that exists will disappear.
Government is doing what it can to spread a correct knowledge of the provisions of the Bill, but is it not the duty of those people who believe in truth and in the spirituality that underlies Hindu law to take a hand in this good work ? Why should they not seek to remove the prejudice that has been wrongly created against the Bill .
Pandit Maitra : Leave it to them to decide.
Pandit Kunzru : My hon. Friend disregards facts completely. I confess that I am powerless to convince him....