Historic Move of Mahapanchayat of the Satrol Khap

[DrRajpalSingh]

Skewed sex ratio has driven the mahapanchayat of the Satrol khap, comprising 42 villages in the Narnaund region in Hisar district of Haryana to allow inter-gotra and inter-caste marriages in these villages with the exception of marital ties in the same gotra and same village.

The ban will however, continue on marital ties among people belonging to the same gotra, the same village and the villages sharing borders.

For details read Deepender Deswal's report : Historic Move: Hisar khap agrees to climb down on gotra, caste marriages' in the Tribune, dated 21 April, 2014, pages 1 and 15.

or log : www.tribuneindia.com

[DrRajpalSingh]

The full text of the report:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140421/main7.htm

Historic move: Hisar khap agrees to climb down on gotra, caste marriages
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service

Relaxation not absolute The ban will continue on marital ties among people belonging to the same gotra, the same village and the villages sharing borders

Hisar, April 20
A skewed sex ratio has driven the mahapanchayat of the Satrol khap, comprising 42 villages in the Narnaund region of the district, to allow inter-gotra and inter-caste marriages in these villages with the exception of marital ties in the same gotra and same village.
The mahapanchayat presided over by Subedar Inder Singh (retd) announced to let go of the six-century-old ban on having matrimonial alliances among those residing in these 42 villages.
The decision has been hailed by most khap leaders and the younger generation, but a section of elders from one of the four “tapas” (groups) of the khap has expressed its reservations. It is being considered as a major step towards breaking the shackles of age-old social restriction. The ban has caused a social problem in the area as a number of youths remained unmarried even after attaining the marriageable age.
The Satrol khap, which is one of the major khaps of the Hisar region, has influence over 100 different gotras of 36 communities and 42 villages, prominent among them being Bans, Petwar, Chulana, Jmawari, Kumba, Dhurna and Khanda Kheri.
These villages have been observing “bhaichara” (brotherly ties) and wedding alliances are prohibited in these villages, irrespective of their caste or gotra.


contd...

[DrRajpalSingh]

contd from previous post.............

Hansraj Singh, pradhan of the tapa, said there had been a demand from the society. “We have been getting requests from people to allow marriages among boys and girls of these villages. The khap representatives carried out a survey to realise the problem and create a consensus on the issue,” he stated. Over 100 youths of these villages had not been able to get married even after crossing the marriageable age, he said.
The mahapanchayat had formed a five-member committee comprising Zile Singh of Ugalna tapa, Hosiar Singh of Narnaund tapa, Mahavir Singh and Hansraj Singh of Bans tapa and Satrol khap pradhan Inder Singh to look into the matter.
Announcing the decision to do away with the restriction, Inder Singh said, “With this decision, the khap has paved the way for inter-village, inter-gotra and inter-caste matrimonial alliances among boys and girls of these villages. However, the ban would continue as regards marital ties among people belonging to the same gotra, the same village and the villages sharing borders. I hope the social bond would get stronger among people after this decision.”
Petwar tapa representatives, however, opposed the move and decided to boycott the meeting by walking out of the mahapanchayat.
Reacting to the khap decision, Janwadi Mahila Samiti state president Shakuntala Jakhar said the khaps had no right to meddle in the matrimonial affairs of the people as they had many other social issues like dowry, girl education, women rights to work upon, if they wanted to contribute their bit to the welfare of society.

[Prikshit]

Will this solve the problem of skewed sex ratio? I doubt this will, but yes imported girls from other states will reduce.

[DrRajpalSingh]

Will this solve the problem of skewed sex ratio? I doubt this will, but yes imported girls from other states will reduce.

At least, it would reduce bad blood among the neighbouring Jats where the earlier restrictions had to be obeyed and now stand removed. Moreover, the inter caste marriage provision is a new dimension in the history of the Khaps in the recent years as it would be accepted by people as a progressive step.

[sunnytewatia]

Moreover, the inter caste marriage provision is a new dimension in the history of the Khaps in the recent years as it would be accepted by people as a progressive step.

dear rajpal sir, in my opinion and understanding, khaps were never against intercaste marriages in the past too. i dont remember any opinion where khaps objected to intercaste marriages. their objection has always been to (i) marriages in same village ( doesnt matter if inter or intra caste) or (ii) in same gotra (bhaichara issue) or (iii) girl of the majority of the village gotra coming to the village as bahu. but never intercaste. could u pls confirm if my understanding is right.

[DrRajpalSingh]

contd from previous post.............

Hansraj Singh, pradhan of the tapa, said there had been a demand from the society. “We have been getting requests from people to allow marriages among boys and girls of these villages.........................................

Reacting to the khap decision, Janwadi Mahila Samiti state president Shakuntala Jakhar said the khaps had no right to meddle in the matrimonial affairs of the people as they had many other social issues like dowry, girl education, women rights to work upon, if they wanted to contribute their bit to the welfare of society.

Instead of appreciating the progressive step undertaken by the Khap leaders, Shakuntala Jakhar's criticism of the same seems to be an act of 'criticism for the shake of criticism.'

[manjeet137]

Sir where i think its not good dicision especially when the matter of inter-caste marriages for jaats because we all know that jaat is marshal cast and they had created history. Someone also writes about royal cast in the book of aarya smaaj that " the religion of royal cast (jaat) never allows to donate his sperm to the lower cast". Now khaap mahapanchayat allows to marry inter-caste. Sir if it happens then blood of a royal cast not mixed and Royality of pure blood not distroyed i dont know what the progenies come in future.

[DrRajpalSingh]

Sir where i think its not good dicision especially when the matter of inter-caste marriages for jaats because we all know that jaat is marshal cast and they had created history. Someone also writes about royal cast in the book of aarya smaaj that " the religion of royal cast (jaat) never allows to donate his sperm to the lower cast". Now khaap mahapanchayat allows to marry inter-caste. Sir if it happens then blood of a royal cast not mixed and Royality of pure blood not distroyed i dont know what the progenies come in future.

Utopian idea about losses; nothing to fear!!!!.
The system of inter caste marriages already is practised .

[navdeepkhatkar]

Scripting history by bringing about changes in the norms pertaining to marriages, Haryana's biggest khap panchayat called by Satrol khap in Hisar on Sunday gave a go-ahead to inter-caste marriages that have in the past triggered bloody killings in the state and surrounding regions.

The khaps, in the name of tradition, have been opposed to inter-caste marriages, inter-village marriages (that is, within a radius of 42 villages) as well as same-gotra marriages. With Sunday's meeting, a substantial swathe under Satrol khap will henceforth allow inter-caste marriages as well as weddings between families from villages within the radius of 42 villages — though marriages within the same village and immediate bordering villages remain banned. Same-gotra marriages too remain barred, and the weddings can take place only with parental consent.

The reform is significant and represents the first moderation in the hitherto unyielding opposition of khaps to inter-caste and inter-village marriages. These rules have led to persecution of couples, suicides, honor killings and caste conflicts in rural belts, and even forced bachelors to get brides from other states. The largest number of killings has occurred owing to inter-caste marriages, followed by same village (42 village radius) marriages, followed by same-gotra marriages.

Satrol panchayat covers 36 castes in 42 villages spread over 250 sq km area of Narnaund village of Hisar district and has 60 per cent population of jats, who would be able to marry into different castes subject to parental approval. Barring members of Petgaon tapa (a cluster of villages), all delegates unanimously approved the resolution redefining jurisdiction and permitting inter-caste marriages.

"This is the only way out to keep our old traditions alive. Instead of getting a bride from outside the state who takes time to adjust, we preferred to prune the jurisdiction of prohibited areas. This will bring revolutionary change in Haryana," said Satrol khap president Inder Singh Subedar.

Bibipur sarpanch and president of Nogama khap Sunil Jaglan, who was a special invitee, termed the step "revolutionary". "Now, khaps will be seen in positive sense. We really appreciate this; it will usher in more changes," said Jaglan, who also represents the voice of youth.

Neelam Jain, a research scholar in Delhi University who has worked in several Haryana villages, termed it a progressive decision and an initiative to weed out social wrongs created by misunderstandings and misconceptions.

Dr Om Parkash Dhankar, Sarv khap panchayat coordinator and Haryana Dhankar khap president welcomed the decision. "This will further strengthen our fight for amendment in Hindu Marriage Act to bar same-gotra and same-village marriages," he said.

[narenderkharb]

That is a wrong understanding of the Khap resolution.


Khaps never interfered in intercaste marriage .Its objections as per traditions always limited to intra khap, intra village or intra got marriages.Objections to intercaste marriage were always raised by parents not Khaps .However for the first time Khaps did call for a consent of the parents along with the consenting individuals for a proper marriage.

Media had preconceived notions about Khaps that they object to intercaste marriage so when Khap verdict was announced they took it as if it is a new development ,allowed by Khap for the first time.

Anyway Khap resolutions are a welcome step.In an all khap meeting held at CSDS in Delhi ,I asked the restrictions to go to Tapa level taboo but my own Khap has moved a step further.It is important to mention here that despite being a big khap not a single case was ever reported in Satrol Khap where married couple violated khap taboos.Changing times created new needs and Khap elders responded here showing that khaps are vibrant democratic institutions not some dead letters written in law books.

All salutations to Khap elders and their sagacious wisdom.

[DrRajpalSingh]

The decision of the Satrol khap panchayat to all matrimonial alliances in 42 villages falling under its jurisdiction in Narnaud block of district Hisar has got stamp of approval from Sarv Khap Maha Panchyat and many other khaps that termed the decision as pragmatic and in tune with the changing times. The tribune, Chandigarh dated 22 April, 2014, has carried out a front page news item on the topic : 'OTHER KHAPS BACK DECISION ON INTER CASTE MARRIAGES'

[skharb]

kuch na h ya panchyat ............sirf satrol khap todene ki sazish h.
ho sakta h future panchyato m in media cerated satrol khap/tapa pardhano ka hooka pani na band ho jye

[DrRajpalSingh]

kuch na h ya panchyat ............sirf satrol khap todene ki sazish h.
ho sakta h future panchyato m in media cerated satrol khap/tapa pardhano ka hooka pani na band ho jye

It was a bold initiative and there is nothing to fear.

The decisions taken at the said Maha Panchayat have been endorsed by other Khap leaders including convenor of Maha Panchayats.

It seems none is going to the extent of violating the decisions taken in Hisar the other day !

[sunnytewatia]

That is a wrong understanding of the Khap resolution.


Khaps never interfered in intercaste marriage .

very right. i agree sir. even rajpal ji seemed to have this confusion n i tried clarifying it above. people need to understand that khaps were never against intercaste marriage but always tried to save 'bhaichara' in local samaj.

[DrRajpalSingh]

very right. i agree sir. even rajpal ji seemed to have this confusion n i tried clarifying it above. people need to understand that khaps were never against intercaste marriage but always tried to save 'bhaichara' in local samaj.

I am aware, traditionally Khaps have never objected to inter-caste marriages, and they are in vogue since times immemorial.

But to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is for the first time that the

Satrol Khap has encouraged inter-caste marriages openly from public platform.

Regarding maintenance of Bhaichara they have adhered to the conditions of the changed times.

[DrRajpalSingh]

The Satrol Khap Mahapanchayat held at Narnaund today, 24th April, 2014 has taken a few very significant decisions of far reaching importance like appointing Youth Khap wing President and Women Wing President respectively to involve the youth and the women in decision taking and implementation of the decisions in the area represented by it.