Caste-iron control: The threat of Rajasthan’s caste panchayats
The article discusses the impact of caste panchayats in Rajasthan, focusing on the case of Rinku Chauhan and her family. After refusing to accept an arranged marriage for their daughters, the family faced a social boycott from their caste community that has lasted for 26 years. This boycott has resulted in complete isolation from social and economic interactions within their village.
- ▪Rinku Chauhan and her sister were married at a very young age by their family without parental consent.
- ▪The family's refusal to accept the marriage led to a social boycott imposed by caste leaders.
- ▪The social boycott has lasted for 26 years, preventing any interaction with their caste community.
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Rinku Chauhan was four and her sister Jayashree all of two months when they were married to two brothers in their village of Sukarlai in Rohat tehsil of Rajasthan by their grandmother and the elders of the caste. Rinku’s parents, who were not present at the ceremony, refused to accept the wedding. They decided to take on the panch, a body of elderly men within a caste, which takes decisions on a range of matters.This rebellion led to the caste leaders announcing a social boycott (‘hooka-pani band, or the stopping of shared resources’). It has now been 26 years. The social boycott means that no member of their caste, including distant and close relatives, is allowed to interact with the family. The family has not been invited to weddings or death ceremonies all these years.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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