DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1115
interpretation of those texts. And in the Mimansa we have it laid down how any text of the Srutis or the Smritis should be interpreted. It is also laid down that the meaning of the law cannot be known merely by looking at a sentence at one place. So many tests—proving tests— have to be applied to it.
[ P ANDIT T HAKUR D AS B HARGAVA in the Chair ]
If, therefore, it is the claim of the government that the Hindu Code Bill is based on principles and tenets contained in the Hindu Shastras, my earnest request is that we should carefully and according to the rules, examine the various provisions and then find out if they violate what is contained or laid down in the Shastras or not. My humble submission is that they are not only not in conformity with Hindu Shastras, but go diametrically against them. ( Interruption ) Somebody is saying at my back that I am now expanding. I wish my friend would understand that if I wished to expand these ideas it would take days to finish.
Shri Munavalli: That is your intention also.
Pandit Malaviya : We have known of the concept of omniscience. I find that there is a new phenomenon of it here, who knows the minds of others.
Shri Munavalli: Certainly.
Pandit Malaviya : I congratulate the hon. Member. I wish to submit that I am trying to confine myself as rigidly as possible to the shortest possible limit. I am saying this with a sense of responsibility. Let any Member of this House who would like to have an exhaustive and expanded exposition of the points I have made, let him do me the honour of coming to me after this sitting and I will then make him see how much there is to say, how much there is to study, and ponder over each one of the points that I am only briefly mentioning here.
I was submitting that if we have to go by the Shastras the whole matter simplifies itself, because there will then be no room for any difference or controversy. If the two parties to a case have agreed upon a measuring rod and there is no dispute about it, it should be easy then for any set of normal people to take up that yardstick and measure the cloth to the mutual satisfaction of both. If it is agreed that it is on the basis of the Shastras that we are going to enact this law, according to the rules of interpretation so clearly laid down, it should be easy for anybody and the hon. Law Minister to sit down, go through clause