Feudalism still rules the roost here

HISAR, JAN 19: Feudalistic egos still reign supreme in Haryana villages. In a unique incident, Malik Khap clan has debarred Sudesh nam...

HISAR, JAN 19: Feudalistic egos still reign supreme in Haryana villages. In a unique incident, Malik Khap clan has debarred Sudesh name withheld on request, a newly-married girl of this Malik- dominated village to enter her in-laws house in Sandeel village of Jind distyrict for her entire life. Defiance can lead to social ostracisation of her widow mother by the biradari.

According to on-the-spot information gathered by The Indian Express, Sudesh was to get married to Subhash not his real name, a Jaglan sub-caste Jat of village Sandeel, another Malik-dominated village on December 13 last. The moment Sandeel village Maliks came to know about the engagement, they objected to the entry of any Malik girl in the village and raised the issue with Umra Maliks a day before the marriage.

A frantic search for a suitable boy was launched by the villagers.The girl8217;s mother also agreed for a new match after the villagers apprised her of the social stigure attached. Accordingly, Subhash8217;s family was also informed about the development.

But efforts to search for a new match yielded no fruits, Subhash8217;s family was again contacted and asked to bring the 8220;barat8221; as scheduled on December 13. Interestingly, none of the villagers attended the marriage because of obvious controversy.

Still dissatisfied allegedly because of hurt egos, Sandeel Maliks again came to Umra after a couple of weeks of the marriage and held a fresh Panchayat on January third and demanded a breakage of the marriage. Undecided, another Panchayat was held on January 10, again with no results.

The matter was then taken up with Baljit Singh, a supreme head of the Malik Clan and known as 8220;dada8221;, who lives near Gohana. He summoned the biradari khaap Panchayat on January 17 to settle the social dispute and pronounce judgement.

Umra Maliks will be held responsible if the verdict8221; was not implemented sincerely.

Story continues below this ad

According to village elders, 8220;the defiance of dada8217;sverdict8221; will mean social boycott of the girl8217;s family by the villagers.When spoken to the mother of Sudesh at her house, she was not available and had gone to Andalan village in Punjab along with the village seniors to apprise Sudesh and her husband about the judgement passed by the 8220;dada8221; to be accepted by the panchayat.