Summary:

Seven days after Manisha Thapa Magar and Bhuwan Nepali tied nuptial knot parents of the bride moved to the police station to find out whereabouts of her daughter. Thapa, a local of Guras Rural Municipal-5 Surkhet and Nepali of Bailkada had married on March 31, 2015. The newly married couple appeared before the station and case was solved in presence of locals. Dismayed with this move Manisha’s parents filed yet another case at Surkhet Police station arguing that the girl was below required marriage age. Police resolved the case but the parents of newly wed bride were still unhappy their daughter’s choice. She was away from her parents and did not contact for two years. During this period various sensitization programs regarding Cast Based Social Discriminations issues were conducted at community level and several radio programs were broadcasted. Apart from these efforts, door-to-door campaigns were conducted at the local level aimed at informing locals about social discriminations and existing legal provisions. Consequently, parents of the girl agreed to welcome the couple to their home almost two years of their marriage. A brief function was organized in presence of relatives from both the families.

Challenges:

Members of so-called upper-caste community tried to attack. Such attempts were against the existing law. Untouchability, a system based on caste practices of distinction, exclusion and restrictions leads to the denial of the economic, social and cultural rights of Dalits. For example, they are segregated from community, denied to access public drinking water and not allowed to go to restaurants, temples and public places. Rigid social norms of purity and pollution are also enforced socially through strict prohibitions on marriage or other social interaction between castes. Given the context, Manisha and Bhuwan were compelled to go away from their family in the aftermath of inter-cast marriage. They couldn’t convince their family immediately. But the issue was resolved two years after their marriage. It was made possible with changed perception among locals. Public awareness that has been spread through HRAA and HR activists through various programs has greatly helped to aware the locals.

Initiative:

During two years of period Manisha’s parents participated in various programs and forums that advocate against caste-based discriminations. They realized that the way they adopted after her daughter decided about her future was wrong and legally punishable act. As a result, they decided to accept inter-caste marriage.

Results:

In recent days, Manisha’s parents are known among public as the family of accepting inter-cast marriage in Goganpani VDC. By accepting inter-caste marriage they have set an example in their locality. This has helped Dalit rights activists to sensitize community people to accept inter-caste marriage as normal process and let their son and daughter to choose his or her life partner. Surendra Mahatara, newly elected chief of ward of Goganpai-5; praised the move to accept inter-caste marriage.