820 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
task is not beyond the capacity of Dr. Ambedkar or Pandit Bhargava or other legal luminaries. Speaking for myself I am particularly in favour of the clause relating to monogamy and divorce. But there are other clauses which I would not like to adopt. I would therefore like to have the liberty of making a declaration to the fact that so far as I am concerned I would like to be governed by the clauses relating to monogamy and divorce and not others. I would beg of this house very seriously to consider the suggestion. Firstly, that this enactment should be applicable to the entire nation, secondly, it should be open to anyone to say by declaration that he wants to be governed by this Code and thirdly, it should be open to him to say also that he wants to be governed by this or that chapter.
Dr. Deshmukh: If the husband and wife differ on the issue of say divorce, who will decide ?
The Minister of Works, Production and Supply (Shri Gadgil) : The child will decide.
Mr. Speaker : Let the hon. Member proceed.
Shri J. R. Kapoor : If the husband and wife differ on the divorce issue I am prepared to give the choice to the wife, if thereby I can secure the support of the lady Members here. If my suggestion is accepted, of course the various provisions of the Bill will have to be recast. It is a matter of principle. Once the principle is accepted— namely that we should have one uniform law for the whole country, secondly that we should give the liberty to every citizen to say whether he wants to be governed by the Code or not and thirdly, the liberty to pick and choose various aspects of the Code—proper amendments could of course be drafted. I know how difficult it is but difficult as it is certainly it is much easier than the task of getting this Bill passed by this House and, certainly it is easier than to get the support of the entire nation for this Bill as it is, compulsorily enforceable among the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
Therefore, I submit that my suggestion should be very seriously considered. I hope and trust that if we consider it coolly, calmly, dispassionately and without any prejudice either for or against it, certainly we shall be able to come to an agreed solution and perhaps within five or seven days we may be able to pass this controversial measure. It will satisfy everybody. It will satisfy those who want to have a uniform Code. It will satisfy the orthodox Hindus because it