868 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
the nucleus of that family. Let this contiune. Unless and until our whole notion of society changes, my humble submission is that we should not change it abruptly, because this change will be great that ultimately the ladies will lose on both sides. At the time of marriage, the sons will say, “Why give her so much dowry ? She is going to get inheritance”. At the time of the inheritance, the father will fall on the lap of the sons and they will get some deed or will by which the daughter will be deprived. Both ways, the woman will get nothing. This will not be a fair way of treating women.
When you ask us, the people to whom this Bill will apply, I would certainly submit that if you want to have this Code in such a manner that you do not respect our wishes and our customs which have been in existence for the last several centuries, if you want to create such a conflict, then ultimately we shall have to say, “ You kindly leave us to our own fate”. This is my humble submission. Though I am in favour of the good provisions of this Bill, I would very humbly request Dr. Ambedkar and those others who are very much in favour of it to kindly see that our wishes in this matter are respected and we are allowed to have such customs or such provisions of the law as the majority of the people in our particular province want. This is, in essence, what we have given an amendment about in regard to Part I of the Bill.
Shri Tyagi : How will the majority view be obtained ?
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : In the Punjab, the majority view is clear. You go to any village or town and ask any person who will be affected by the Bill; he will tell you exactly what I am submitting today. There is absolutely no difference of opinion, so far as Punjab is concerned. Therefore, my humble submission is that while you apply this law to Punjab—and I wish this law to be applied to Punjab— you apply it with these reservations. This law is not bad, it is entirely wrong to suggest that there is anything inherently wrong about it. There is nothing wrong about it. We have lived for so many centuries and we must repair the damage done to our nation. Therefore. I am entirely in support of this Bill, but if the notions and customs which are widely prevalent among the people and which are very delicate are upset, there will be such a great amount of litigation in the Hindu society. Every family in Punjab will be affected. There will be nothing but litigation. You are, in deference to public opinion bringing in a provision of the Partition Act. What will be the result ? On every