DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1079
first traversed on entering India. Yet it seems to have been there that Brahmanism most completely failed to take root ….. and the religious element has never entered into their secular law: ”
If I have enjoyed emancipation from Manu for so long a time, will it not be a tyranny of the times if I have to submit now to a modern Manu ? If I have not been governed by Brahmanical rule and I have had secular law for a long time in Punjab, if I have not accepted Manu’s religion, then let me assure the House that Punjab is not going to accept Ambedkarian religion henceforward, ( interruption ) . Let me give credit to Manu that at least he was original in many respects, but my modern Manu—oh, what a fall has he had ! He is neither original nor progressive. ( Interruption ) . You ask who is the modern Manu ? Well, I need not say.
Dr. Ambedkar : I am not a modern Manu.
Sardar B. S. Man : In Punjab we do not recognise communal groupst and the application of this law will, for the first time introduce the communal element there. I shall read to you from Mayne’s Hindu Law, 9th Edition, Page 48, where it is said:
“ The special interest of Punjab Customs arises from the fact that Brahmanism seems never to have succeeded in the Punjab. Accordingly, when we find a particular usage common to the Punjab and to Sanskrit law, we may infer that there is nothing necessarily Brahmanical in its origin. The Brahmans are not, in the Punjab, the depositaries of Customary law. To ascertain it, we must go to the Jirga, or Tribal Council, if there be one, or to the elders of the tribe.
Shri R. K. Chaudhari (Assam) : I am sorry to interrupt, but let us come straight to the point. Does the Hon. Member want monogamy or not ? That is the question.
Shri Tyagi: Why beat about the bush ?
Sardar B. S. Man : A false sense of security is being created in the House through the Press that Government want to proceed with only marriage and divorce. Has Dr. Ambedkar declared here difinitely that he is leaving out the other portions and he is only concerned with marriage and divorce ? I am discussing the applicability of this Code in its entirety. I proceed on the assumption that the other portions are not going to be dropped. I caution my friends. Once Government lull you into a sense of indifference and false feeling of security, they will proceed with the other portions.