Retd Principal Faces ‘Social Boycott’ After Son’s Inter-Caste Marriage In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: A 73-year-old retired professor and his 68-year-old wife in Odisha’s Balangir have alleged social boycott following their son’s wedding outside their community.

According to Manmohan Sai, a resident of Puintala village, Agharia Samaj boycotted his family since his son Soumya Ranjan, an IT professional based in Bengaluru, married a Marathi woman in 2023.

Sai had retired as principal of Jawaharlal College, Patnagarh. He got a wind of it when his family was not invited by people of the community for social functions in the last six months. When he approached president of the samaj Subhranshu Shekhar Patel, he was allegedly asked to disown his son and tonsure his head as a sign of bereavement to be able to return to the community.

Patel also cited the community’s caste “constitution”, which prohibits inter-caste marriages, and advised him to avoid social functions, the retired professor told a local channel.

He further alleged a ‘kangaroo court’ was convened in Puintala that formalised their boycott and anyone maintaining social relations with his family was threatened of similar consequences. “The isolation is extremely painful since we had planned to spend our retired life peacefully with our relatives and the community. Social boycott is one of the most deplorable practice. I had raised objection to it in writing. No caste constitution is above the Constitution of India, which allows inter-caste marriages,” Sai said, adding that he is contemplating legal action and may approach the police and state human rights commission if the boycott isn’t revoked.

Patel, however. has termed the allegations as baseless. “We focus on social welfare and helping needy members. We don’t interfere in anyone’s personal life,” he said.

Balangir SDPO Pradip Kumar Sahu assured that an inquiry will be conducted if police receive a complaint in this regard.