M A I N   N E W S

Other khaps back decision on inter-caste marriages
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service

Baljit Singh Malik, pradhan of Haryana’s biggest and progressive Gathwala khap in Sonepat, stated that the decision was the need of the hour. “Earlier, there used to be small villages and there was no difficulty in finding a match outside 42 villages. The population growth has widened the length and breadth of the Satrol khap society which has around 100 gotras, thus necessitating the need for easing the restrictions in inter-gotra marriages”. Mehar Singh, pradhan of Meham Chaubisi khap panchayat in Rohtak, said that after faced with similar circumstances Chaubisi khap had taken such a decision centuries ago. “Like Satrol khap, we too have people of many gotras living in 24 villages. Chabutera par bhai, niche asanai (Though we observe bhaichara while sitting on chabutara during panchayat, same set of people can be in-laws)”.

Ishwar Singh Punia, a representative of Punia khap, said though it came a bit late, it was a right decision which needed to be followed by other khaps which are facing similar problem. “The decision would also help curb honour killings as those parents, who committed such heinous crime out of a false sense of honour, would not feel that way as inter-gotra martial ties have got the approval of society”.

Similarly, Dahiya Khap pradhan Pratap Singh Dahiya and Virender Kadian of Kadian khap described it a matter of the Satrol khap stating that each khap had the sovereign right to take any decision in such matters. “About 40 years ago, people belonging to Kadian, Jakhar and Sangwan gotras had bhaichara (brotherly relations thereby banning marriages). But growing population has led to the opening of matrimonial ties among these gotras. While ages ago, people of Dahiya, Dabas, Hooda and Kundu gotra, too, were considered brothers but subsequently decision to ease ban on marriages among boys and girls of these gotras had to be taken”, said Pratap Singh.

The convener of the sarv khap panchayat (supreme body of the khap panchayats), Kuldeep Dhanda said that each khap was free to take its own decision regarding traditions and social norms. “Sarv khap panchayat has no right to meddle in the affairs of any khap until there was a case of grave injustice to anyone and was brought to its notice by the aggrieved person(s). We welcome this decision of Satrol khap which is in sync with the natural law of constant change. Those who don’t change as per the changing times could be left behind”, he commented.

Dissent surfaces

Dissenting voices have emerged from one of the four tapas which comprises the Satrol Khap in Narnaund block against the decision to allow marriages in 42 villages in the jurisdiction of the khap. Sultan Singh, pradhan of the Petwar tapa, said: “We have convened a meeting of the tapa comprising 10 villages on Tuesday to review the decision.” He said marriages be allowed only among villages falling in four different tapas instead of easing out social restrictions in all 42 villages

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