DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1057
to the foreground. In 1856 Shri Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy brought about reforms like widow remarriage. These things have been going on. Authorities and commentators of our religious scriptures have writen different things about the subject. I don’t ask you not to pass this legislation. But why are you doing it today ? Why are you so impatient ?
Please be good enough to wait for some time. General Elections are imminent and the new House will meet in May next year. At that time you may bring forward the best of legislations and pass it. Some of the present Members may again be elected and if I again sit in this Houser I will take part in the deliberations. But before that put the final draft of the Bill before the people and do not have an incomplete legislation and say—“Gokul Bhai, please get it passed”. I do not want this. Give me something wholesome to eat. If you give me something dirty to eat or say that I should eat controlled rice, because nothing better is available. I won’t have it. I will have something good to eat. It is another thing that hunger may compel me but if there is an alternative food I will prefer that. I would rather eat leaves of trees than eat anything dirty. So I request you to postpone this Bill. You have accommodated us to some extent and I want to thank you for that. I congratulate you on your sagacity because you have met the demands of time. But be more liberal and go a step forward. I would also ask my sisters what good would accrue to them if it is passed just now and how they would come to harm if it is delayed by four months. The skies would not fall, nobody would come to harm nor is there any question of monetary advantage if it is passed. That is why I am making this request.
I again refer to the talk I had with some people in a factory. They want the question of divorce to be settled according to custom. But what are Customs ? Customs have a great influence, even Dr. Ambedkar won’t deny this. What I am opposed to is that you want to do away with our customs. That will not work at least for some years to come. If you want to take the backward classes with you you will have to slow down your pace. Only in that case shall we follow you. Mahatmaji was very progressive. When Shri M. N. Roy came to the Faizpur Congress and began discussing Communism with Mahatmaji, he (Mahatamji) said, I was not there. I am telling you what I came to know about their conversation—“Mr. Roy, say whatever you want to say in the strongest possible words about present day society and capitalists”. Mr. Roy made a strong and lengthy speech. Then Mahatmaji said, “Is that all ?”