Myth becomes a millstone for lovers in this village

In February, Vimal and Roshni got married. Their families were boycotted by the villagers, who put up a notice asking others to obey.

The families were isolated for almost five months, during which the villagers – most of them farmers – continued to taunt the couple, sometimes even threatening them for having broken tradition, said advocate Nikhil Shah, who has moved the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court seeking action against 13 villagers.

CJM A J Vasa has issued summons to the villagers and asked them to appear before him on August 22.

The court case has only emboldened the villagers, who formed Vichar Manthan Samiti in the wake of the February marriage. The committee’s brief is to ensure that the "boycott is implemented" and "spread terror using traditional means".

"We are not 13, but 59," said an office-bearer of VMS, adding, "We want to prevent future marriages. We have already succeeded in preventing five couples who were all set to follow suit." They clarified that they were not against youths from the village marrying or falling in love with someone from another village.

"How can we allow marriages within the family? It may have disastrous consequences. We want to save our future generations," VMS office-bearers argue.

Legend has it that two brothers settled here hundreds of years ago. The elder lived in Moti Bhagol and the younger in Nani Bhagol. The two areas that form a major portion of the village are inhabited only by Patels. A majority of the VMS members live in Moti Bhagol.

The villagers – initially hostile to questioning – later owned up the boycott, which they said was necessary to "teach the youngsters a lesson".

Their anger stems from five such marriages in the last couple of years – all against the elders’ wishes. They blame the trend on the culture promoted by satellite television and films.

The couples who married before the Samiti was formed are lucky to have escaped. "How can we implement a resolution with retrospective effect? They have been exempted and we are looking at future marriages," a member said. Only male members are signatories to the resolution passed by VMS. "When we sign our family members are not expected to have a different opinion," they said.