For the first time in the history of Nizampur village in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit groom defied a 40-year-old upper caste diktat to take a historic ride on a ‘bugghy’ to solemnise his wedding amid security cover of over 350 cops.
In the village, Dalits are not allowed to take out marriage procession on horseback. Those who tried to defy the ban were assaulted by upper caste villagers.
The marriage of Sanjay Jatav (27), a resident of Hathras, was fixed with Sheetal of Nizampur village six month back. Sanjay wanted to bring the ‘baraat’ in a marriage procession riding a horse. But he was denied permission by dominant Thakurs in the village.
Sanjay, however, did not give up. He requested the Village Pradhan Kanti Devi, a Thakur by caste, but she also opposed his daring act saying that it may result in caste-related clashes, and create law and order problem in the village.
Disappointed but not defeated. Sanjay took up the matter with senior district and police officials of Kasganj. Initially, they refused but when the issue was raked up by the media, the district administration held a series of meeting with influential Thakurs and agreed to allow Sanjay to take out his marriage procession on a pre-decided route under heavy security.
Initially, the marriage was scheduled for April 20 but it was solemnised on Saturday since her bride Sheetal did not complete 18 years, the legal age for girls’ marriage.
It was for the first time in the history of Uttar Pradesh that 350 cops, including 12 Inspectors, 2 circle officers, half a dozen ASIs, were deployed to provide security cover to any Dalit’s wedding.
Rakesh Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, said that Sanjay’s ‘baraat’ was received at the Hathras-Kasganj borders by police and escorted to Nizampur village under unprecedented security cover. Riding on a horse-driven ‘bugghy’, and Sanjay’s marriage procession passed through Thakur-dominated localities with armed policemen taking positions on rooftop of houses.
“We are not against upper castes but I fought this battle for our Constitutional rights of equality, respect and against indiscrimination in the society to low castes,” said a smiling Sanjay.
Sheetal, the 18-year-old bride was happy but appeared a little apprehensive about any fall out of the issue after seeing the security bandobast. “The police protection was for today only but my family has to live in this village only. I pray that Dalit families are not haunted after my husband defying the age-old traditions,” reacted Sheetal.
In the past, there were at least three incidents in which dominant Thakurs had bashed up Dalits for attempting to take out marriage procession. Sanjay Jatav has scripted a new history of dalit liberation in Nizampur village of Kasganj.
