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Journalism of Courage
ON a bright Sunday afternoon at a private club in Vadodara, the rich and influential Patels from six villages of Charotar belt of central Gujarat are huddled over some serious calculations. It8217;s not about multiplying their investment, but it8217;s about sticking to the roots. It is a hunt for potential brides and grooms. But the hunt is limited to six villages in the region and there is a platform to assist them in the hunt.
It is called the Chha gaam na Patel Patels from six villages. The villages are Dharmaj, Bhadran, Sojitra, Vaso, Karamsad and Nadiad in the NRI belt of Charotar region. Formed about six years ago, the idea was to act as an active marriage bureau. Six years on, the association is progressing well.
Twenty seven years old, Jay B. Patel, originally from Sojitra now settled in Dubai, was here on Sunday for the Chha gaam na Patel meet. Instead of looking for a bride in Dubai, he followed tradition and flew back home.
At the pasandgi mela selection fair of the Chha gaam na Patel, held once every year, parents of potential brides and grooms fill up a form.
The forms contain detailed information on the family, background, exact location, references, and of course an important column, which all families concentrate on; whether the boy or the girl is settled abroad or whether there are chances of them going abroad.
8216;8216;Once these forms are filled up and sent to the organising body all the members of these villages decide on a common date on when this meeting could be conducted between the families so that the final selection is done,8217;8217; says Balwant Patel, one of the members of the organising committee of these villages. Apart from the parents even the potential brides and grooms take part in the mela and if luck is on their side a preliminary meeting is also convened at the mela.
Shilpa Patel of Dharmaj village is studying in Zimbabwe and is now looking for a groom. She wants to marry but has come to India and wants to get married to a Patel from the neighbouring five villages other than Dharmaj. 8216;8216;It is easier to select someone from such a platform where there is a congregation of families you know,8217;8217; said Patel.
The elders have formed the tradition for the youngsters and they are following it willingly it. 8216;8216;The elders do not impose it on us but it is a choice we make on our own,8217;8217; said Vikas Patel who had come with his parents at the Mela. He was here to look for the right match for his brother who is in Dubai.
8216;8216;The Patels of all these six villages have similar traditions to be followed which makes it easier for selection. The association makes it easier for us to seek the alliance,8217;8217; said Chiren Patel of Sojitra village. Patel said even if they have some better proposals coming up in the adopted country where they are settled not many are interested as even the youngsters believe in sticking to their roots.
Even those packing their stuff for shores abroad, the pasandgi mela is the best things that has happened. Vrajesh Patel of Dharmaj is doing his third year of business management and is all set to go to London this year end but he intends to stick to the arranged marriage once he plans to settle down. 8216;8216;I know once I come back from London after a year, I will have better options in jobs and marriage, but I prefer sticking to the choice of parents as the families of the other five villages have similar culture and dialect in which I have grown up,8217;8217; said Vrajesh.
8216;8216;From the time this association is formed it has become easier for those staying in other parts of the world to get in touch with the members ad collect information on the eligible candidates,8217;8217; said another organiser Ajit Patel of Vadodara.
The Patels in Gujarat are known for their kinship and even in other parts are known to prefer brides and grooms for their children within the community. But unlike the Chha Gaam na Patel, no such initiative is found anywhere else. And even for the outside Patels, the Patels of these six villages are indeed sought after when it comes to marriages. 8216;8216;They are the rich influential Patels and Patels from other places are known to offer their alliances here,8217;8217; commented a Patel businessman of Vadodara. But the Patels of these six villages prefer to stick to inter village marriage proposals only.
Sociologist point out that this kinship is a fallout of a strong sense of identity within the Patel community and their rich financial background. Says sociologist, N Rajaram. 8216;8216;Patels of the six villages are very conscious of their identity and that is one reason that they prefer to stick to their roots. The Patels here are better off financially than the others hence this insistence from parents for inter village marriages.8217;8217;
