Hindu Code Bill: Towards Liberation of Women

Abstract

Multiple roles of maternity formed the core of the discourse surrounding the controversial Hindu Code Bill during 1941–1956. In the struggle to reach a social agreement on family laws for the majority Hindu community in modern India, the discourse in the public and legislative scope brought out the split social ethics on maternity in Indian society. The constructive phase of family law reforms also played an important role in the social formation of the identity of maternity. The current revitalization of the discussion on enacting a uniform civil code, which its proponents trust will give all oppressed women equal rights, manages the reality of the discrimination that Hindu women continue to face in spite of alterations in Hindu personal laws, including issues of maintenance and inheritance. Instead of consistency in law oppressed women need an accessible and affordable justice system. Gender equality often stands compromised in several personal laws in India, along with the history of legislature having a non-interfering attitude in altering inequitable personal laws, in order to avoid negotiating on their political vote banks, unless rebuked by the judiciary.