Sakshi Mishra And Ajitesh Kumar Must Be Applauded And Supported
By A Special Correspondent
About the Author
Sakshi Mishra loved Ajitesh Kumar. She is an upper caste Hindu, Kumar is a Dalit. Sakshiâs father is Ramesh Mishra, BJP MLA from Bithari Chainpur in Barielly district in the caste-sensitive UP. Her choice was not acceptable to him. So Sakshi eloped and married Ajitesh. This is a common occurrence in India where inter-caste or inter-religion and even inter-community marriages are not only frowned upon but actively sought to be prevented. If such marriages do happen, honour killings take place cutting across the regional, economic or religious divide, where either the girl or the boy or both are killed.
But Sakshi is brave. She knew her father was a powerful politician who would go to any length to prevent her from marrying below her caste. So she not only eloped but made her marriage public through the media, including disclosing that her father threatened to kill them and sent his goons after them. While the MLA has denied this, Sakshi has approached the High Court for protection from her father who she termed a âlife threatâ. She has also posted a video on social media where she described her ordeal in detail and asked the Bareilly SSP to provide her with security. She also appealed to her father to let her live her own life.
Despite changing preferences of the young generation and the existence of the Special Marriage Act, marrying against the familyâs wishes is still an arduous and often dangerous task for many young Indians. All kinds of pressure tactics are employed by families to prevent the marriage. In the present case, it is now being reported that the pujari and the mahant of the temple where the couple claims to have married have denied conducting it. Even if they do marry, they have to perpetually be on guard, especially if either one of their familiesâ is rich and powerful. Recently though, even the poor and the middle class have begun to indulge in honour killing. India is becoming a dangerous place for lovers who do not belong to the same caste, community or religion. Sakshi and Ajitesh must be supported for having the courage of their conviction.
