DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1229
the custom, the reasonableness or otherwise. Nor has my friend been able to give us any clear picture. I want to apply my mind to that subject and come to a conclusion as to whether it would be possible for Government to accept his proposal. All of a sudden it is not possible.
[12 N OON ]
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : Let it be held over.
Dr. Ambedkar : We can add it afterwards.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : May I suggest one course ? As it is, there is no objection to passing this. The only attempt is to include some other category. Therefore this may be passed now, because we are not passing the entire clause 3. We can add one more category later. With that understanding I will put this part to the vote of the House, the question is :
“That part (viii) renumbered as part (xi) of clause 3 stand part of the Bill.”
The motion was adopted.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Now we will proceed to clause 4.
Capt. A. P. Singh : I have already requested you that one definition should be added after part (viii). The amendment is No. 378, and is about the definition of Kula . It may surprise some hon. Members as to why I want that this word should be defined. But if you see amendment No. 387, there I have said that “the parties do not belong to the same Kula where by custom such marriages are prohibited.” I want this word to be defined here so that marriages may not take place within the same Kula.
Dr. Ambedkar : May I just explain the position. I am afraid that this amendment, although it is a definition, really relates to clause 7— Essentials for a valid Dharmik marriage—where certain conditions for a valid Dharmic marriage have been set out. My friend wants substantively to add one more condition that the parties to a marriage should not belong to the same Kula. If that amendment is accepted, then and then alone would a definition of ‘Kula’ be necessary, although it may be argued that ‘Kula’ is such a well known term that no definition is necessary. But suppose when we are dealing with clause 7 this matter is taken up and the House accepts the amendment, then and there we can intorduce the definition of ‘Kula’. Therefore no definition of ‘Kula’ is necessary now.