In 2013 there was a huge case in a western UP village of a Jat girl eloping with a Muslim boy.She was 19 &first year BA student.A huge Maha-panchayat was organised by the girl’s family with approx 3000 people attending.I also attended. I was the only female in that Maha-Panchayat
I went there in my personal capacity, to see how things work in villages. Attendees were mostly upper caste men, they had gathered to basically castigate Muslims, blame the boy, & find a solution. I saw some local BJP leaders also there. This was August 2013.
I found out that this Muslim boy had come from outside to live with his uncle in a village nearby the girl’s village & due to close proximity of the 2 villages, he used to frequent the girl’s village as he had made some friends there.
Plus since the girl used to go for her BA classes , the boy used to meet her near her college also. The boy was only 10th pass & was learning some mechanic job at his uncle’s place. After elopement, the girl’s family had tracked them down & brought her back.
She was locked in the house ,her BA classes were terminated by the family. Her father was a soldier in the BSF & mostly stayed away from the family & village due to his far flung postings. The girl was under the care of her uncles,grandfather, brothers etc in a joint family.
The girl’s grandfather had called this Maha-Panchayat. There was no representation from the boy’s family. Everyone was speaking loudly on microphones criticising the Muslims asking the village boys to set up local bands & groups to protect the girls.
Elders suggested a quick marriage of the girl. I took the girl’s grandfather in a corner & told him-“Your girl is 19, not a minor ,did the boy abduct her or did she go with him willingly. People who know nothing about the case will now come to know through this huge gathering
If it’s honour that your fighting for&want to marry off your girl to save your honour then this Maha-Panchayat is the biggest disservice you’re doing to your family & the girl’s name. Whether you want to keep the girl & educate her or want to marry her is your decision which you
Should take with the family & within the family, people in this gathering won’t solve your problem, they’re just having fun. Stop this drama, go home & solve your problem, & stop blaming the boy alone, girl is equally responsible” Grandfather agreed with me.
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