<P> Personal laws are distinguished from public law and cover marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and maintenance . Goa has a common family law, thus being the only Indian state to have a uniform civil code . The Special Marriage Act, 1954 permits any citizen to have a civil marriage outside the realm of any specific religious personal law . </P> <P> Personal laws were first framed during the British Raj, mainly for Hindu and Muslim citizens . The British feared opposition from community leaders and refrained from further interfering within this domestic sphere . </P> <P> The demand for a uniform civil code was first put forward by women activists in the beginning of the twentieth century, with the objective of women's rights, equality and secularism . Till Independence in 1947, a few law reforms were passed to improve the condition of women, especially Hindu widows . In 1956, the Indian Parliament passed Hindu Code Bill amidst significant opposition . Though a demand for a uniform civil code was made by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, his supporters and women activists, they had to finally accept the compromise of it being added to the Directive Principles because of heavy opposition . </P> <P> The debate for a uniform civil code dates back to the colonial period in India . Prior to the British Raj, under the East India Company (1757 - 1858), they tried to reform local social and religious customs . Lord William Bentinck, the Governor - General of India, tried to suppress sati, the prescribed death of a widow on her husband's funeral pyre, and passed the Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 . This was later extended outside Bengal to all English territories in India . </P>

Explain the need for uniform civil code in india
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