http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=125370
Mangalore: Love Triumphs over Barriers as Couple Tie Knot
Prof Narendra Nayak
President, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
Mangalore, Dec 21: This is the story of two young people in love, who
refused to be bound by restrictions imposed by society, caste system
and everything else, and listened only to their love-filled hearts.
Sandesh is a Pambada, a caste of dalits who are untouchables except
when they perform in Bhootha Kolas dressed in costumes and carry out
the associated rituals! The moment the costume is removed they become
untouchables.
Deepti belongs to a caste called Kottaris and is studying for her
masters in commerce while working at a mall. The rationalist
assocation has performed many intercaste, interreligious marriages but
the maximum opposition has been when one of the couples is a dalit! As
expected, Deepti's family was very much opposed to this match and
three days ago she fled home and started staying as a paying guest.
On Wednesday December 21, it was a tearful shivering young woman who
came to meet me, worried about her fate and that of her beloved. That
was because her family had arranged a match for her from her own
caste, a young man who was a relative of the head of a most feared
moral police of the Hindutva right wing. She was scared that his goons
were searching for her. In fact, all the documents needed for her
marriage were kept at the place where she used to work and she was
scared when the former colleagues told her that a close watch was
being kept on her locker by the minions of this man.
She had come to us for help with a middle aged lady whom we assumed
was her relative - but it was not! She was Sandesh's mother who had
come with her, out of love for her would-be daughter-in-law. By that
time a number of progressive organisations had been intimated and also
some very progressive minded journalists.
While we tried to get her documents from the place where she used to
work, some goons from there tried to follow her and then it was a ride
straight to the office of the commissioner of police, Seemanth Singh
who had instructed his office to give all help to the couple. By the
time we reached the office, ony Deepti's brothers were there and they
informed the police that they had absolutely no objection to her
marrying anyone of her choice.
So, in the evening one progressive minded priest Jayaram Bhat
performed their marriage in the presence of journalists and
progressive minded organisations like DYFI, Samudaya, AIDWA, Insurance
employees union and the Dakshina Kannada rationalist association. For
the last named, though religious marriages are not their cup of
tea,under some circumstances, particularly when registration has to be
done immediately this sort of ritual becomes necessary. We are very
happy that Jayaram Bhat has been co-operating with us from the past
two decades when there has been a need.
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