Bhubaneswar: The caste system continues to be a scrouge in our society. More than seven decades after the country’s independence, it still casts a shadow on inter-caste marriages, often resulting in violence, ostracisation and even death.
One such incident took place in Raghunathpur, where a group of people in the locality allegedly ostracised a family because their daughter married a man of another caste. The affected family lodged a complaint on Tuesday at Nandankanan police station and sought justice.
Rambha Dalei (55) alleged that her daughter married a man outside their caste and alleged that her neighbours imposed Rs 30,000 penalty on her for allowing the wedding. When she expressed her inability to pay the penalty, the neighbours socially boycotted the family, which means members of the family cannot attend social functions and post-funeral rites in the locality. “It is shocking to experience social evil these days in Bhubaneswar. Even though we boast of turning Bhubaneswar into a smart city, we still face social ostracism for inter-caste marriage,” Dalei’s daughter, who accompanied her mother to the police station, said, requesting anonymity.
Dalei’s husband is a paralysis patient, while she herself is a daily-wage worker. Police said the allegation, involving social ostracism, is being verified. “We have registered a case and are investigating the matter. The suspects named in the FIR would be questioned,”inspector-in-charge of Nandankanan police station Biswaranjan Nayak was quoted as saying.
Social activists have risen to the occasion and have demanded prompt police action against the guilty, arguing that inter-caste marriage is a family’s personal matter.
