1290 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
I say, degenerated, so as to agree to the practice of sagotra marriage. Let it be postponed for ten years, after that this issue may be taken afresh for consideration, if by that time the society succeeds in reaching that height of advancement, which would clear the field for such steps, we would accept it; otherwise it would keep on pending. We do not, of course, approve of the practice of what we call forced bigamy, but, all the same, the practice continues in our society, though it is not so common. Give us ten years’ time during which we may make efforts to do away with such a practice.
In the end once again I take this opportunity to submit to the Hon. Dr. Ambedkar that although, I am a whole-hearted supporter of this measure. I would like him to accept either Shri Bhatt’s amendment or amendment No. 420 moved by Shri Bhargava.
Shri Sivan Pillay (Travancore-Cochin) : Sir, let the question be now put.
Captain A. P. Singh (Vindhya Pradesh) : No, Sir. At least those who have moved amendment may be given an opportunity to speak.
Sardar B. S. Man : Yes, Sir. This is a very important point.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I shall call Mr. Jhunjhunwala and after him Shri Bhatt. They have tabled amendments.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya: Sir, I have also tabled amendments.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I shall call them in this order, and then I shall consider any other name.
*Shri Jhunjhunwala (Bihar) : ( English translation of the Hindi speech ). All my three amendments are in consonance with the Constitution. My first amendment provides that if this Code contains
12 N OON anything against any religion, no clause of this Bill shall override the provisions of the existing law; the second amendment provides that if this Code contains anything against morality, the Bill shall not override the provisions of any existing law, or any custom or usage in force ; and the third provides that if this Code contains anything against the culture of any section of the people, the Bill shall not override the existing law.
Sir, when I had moved the third amendment, you had asked as to what would be the form and definition of the word ‘culture’. Yesterday, in this connection, I had wrongly quoted Article 129 of
*P.D., Vol. 15, Part II, 22nd September 1951, pp. 3168-88.