A 'Baba' who begs to get poor dalit and tribal girls married
Sanjay Pandey in Lucknow
Unlike the others of his ilk, this 'Baba' does not deliver mere
sermons asking others to do this and not to do that. Instead he
believes in delivering the goods.
Popularly known as 'Bhikhari (beggar) Baba', he is the 'mahant'
(chief) of a Shiva Temple at Ramgarh in Uttar Pradesh's backward,
remote and tribal dominated Sonebhadra district, about 400 km from
Lucknow.
As the name suggests, he, like the other 'babas', also goes about
seeking alms from the people, including the professionals, businessmen
and politicians, but the comparison ends here. He does not raise funds
for running his 'ashram' or for living a comfortable life. His
objective is to collect enough money to get the poor girls, especially
those belonging to dalit and tribal families, married in a decent
manner. The saffron-clad man has lost count of marriages conducted by
him - although they are not less than 600, according to a conservative
estimate.
"This year alone the Baba has helped solemnise marriages of over a
hundred poor girls", the local residents said adding that in June
last a grand mass marriage ceremony was organised at the Shiva Temple
premises. Well known throughout the Sonebhadra and the nearby
districts, even in the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the 'baba' says
that he has been engaged in this work for the past several years.
"I have been organising the mass marriage ceremonies since 2005. It
has been going on uninterrupted owing mainly to the generous donations
from the philanthropists of the area," he told Deccan Herald from his
'ashram'. "I have always received good support from the district
officials. During the June ceremony, the district magistrate and the
police chief were among those, who welcomed the baratis (guests) at
the ashram," he said. The marriages are performed in accordance with
the Hindu traditions but no dowry is paid to the grooms' families.
"The girls are, however given all essential household goods so that
they can live comfortably," the Baba said.
"I am dead against payment of dowry and those, who demand dowry are not
allowed to even enter the ashram," he says.
"Accordingly, gifts like watches, cycles, sarees, utensils, cosmetic
items and other things are given to the newly-married couple by people
attending the ceremony," he said adding that a grand feast was also
organised on this occasion in which thousands of people from the
nearby villages took part. Great care is taken to ensure that the
'baratis' (guests from the grooms' side) are accorded due attention
and provided with all comforts during their stay at the ashram for a
night.
The Baba also helps in finding a suitable match for the poor girls. In
fact, he commands such a respect in the area that the families of the
prospective grooms do not say no if he makes a request to them to
agree to a particular proposal.
The ashram of the Baba is filled with people throughout the year. A
majority of these people comprise the families of the poor dalit and
tribal girls, who throng the ashram to inform about the wedding
proposals.
"When a large number of proposals are received, the Baba fixes an
auspicious date in consultation with the astrologers and then the
preparations start," the residents said. And the preparations for
holding marriage of 101 poor girls have already started. "The
marriages are likely to be held in June 2011," the Baba said adding
that the prospective donors are being contacted to contribute
generously.
At a time when the ordinary man struggles hard to mobilise funds for
his daughter's marriage, the Baba is excited about holding a mass
marriage.
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