Pomp and honour

Spurred by education and awareness, people of backward castes are slowly but firmly asserting their identity and rights. There are increasing instances of them sending clear messages across — whether by protesting for a collective cause under the SC/ST banner, or by bringing about a social change within their sub-community, or by taking up cudgels against a wrong even on an individual basis. These efforts are heartwarming and sure steps towards a more just and equitable society.

Sanjay Jatav, a Dalit, is all set become the first proud Dalit to take his baraat (grand marriage procession) — like the Thakurs — through the Thakur-dominated village of Kasganj (UP) of his fiancee, also a Dalit. But to earn this pomp and privilege, the young groom has had to reckon with elders set in their age-old prejudices. He appealed to the high court and the CM in a systematic manner. He locked horns with the local administration. All agencies, though loath to courting controversy, had to give in as our Constitution upholds equality. The way was cleared for Sanjay only as no eruption of communal flare-up was promised. This paves the path for a dignified living for the many more oppressed and harassed Sanjay Jatavs in many more communal Kasganjs. Stories of thrashing of lower caste youths daring to follow that other elitist marriage practice — of ghurchari (mare-riding) —are also common. It’s high time they got off the high horse and let everybody be equally entitled to every ritual. Just last week, a Dalit groom of a Charkhi Dadri village in Haryana suffered this ignominy; a month earlier, there was tension in a Karnal village as a Dalit was beaten up for daring to lead his baraat on the mare. Then, ‘honour killings’ in the name of inter-caste weddings continue to be a blot.

While such deeply entrenched social atrocities will not be eradicated in this simplistic manner, every resistance against such harassment will help bridge the caste divide. For a meaningful shift towards a balanced social setup, Sanjay’s case is exemplary. For, it underlines the importance of finding a workable solution with the involvement of both the community’s wise men and progressive administration officials.