PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 871
so, the Government, with no support from either the Congress or the Muslim League, could hardly do anything about the measure and the measure was dropped. Then again it was taken up in 1948 by Mr. Shanmukham Chetty, who introduced another Bill. The Bill was referred to a Select Committee and the Select Committee took the view that so long as the law of Mitakshara prevailed in this country—and it prevailed in a very large part of the territory of this country—it would be no use having an Estate Duty Bill. The result was that it was taken back—or rather put on the shelf. Mr. Shanmukham Chetty was succeded by Dr. John Matthai and Dr. John Matthai pressed for funds, recalled the session of the Select Committee and put the Bill again before them, and got a verdict from the Select Committee that notwithstanding the fact that the Hindu Code was hanging fire for four years— and nobody knows how long it is going to hang fire, probably permanently and perpetually—and no one is sorry for that except myself ............
Dr. Shrimati Seeta Parmanand (Madhya Pradesh) : The hon. Member is not the only Member who is sorry, but there are other Members also.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I know that women Members are very helpful. I must say that last time when I was on tenter hooks. I called some of the ladies—I mean, the more bulky ones—and I suggested to them that if any one of them went on threatening a fast unto death, probably we might get the Hindu Code through. Sir, I tell you ............
Khwaja Inait Ullah (Bihar) : You are again giving a hint.
Mr. Chairman: You were encouraging satyagraha, Dr. Ambedkar !
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Yes, sometimes it is useful. If it could not bring this Bill through, it would have certainly reduced the weight of the ladies and would have improved their health also considerably. That was the position. Dr. Matthai had a verdict in 1949. There was a second report of the Select Committee and it said, “Never mind about the Hindu Code. Let us proceed with the Estate Duty Bill”, but for three years noting happened. One does not know why. The