on 15/5/2010
Jats have few options , so do Hindu Religion and Indian state.
In all the news debate , it is very common to see that everybody who is against culture and tradition of our communities opposing any amendment in Hindu marriage act , on the ground that act is sufficient and being Hindu it’s suppose to be implemented on all ‘Hindu’ .
They are ignoring few basic things that may lead to fragmentation of Hindus ,and may put challenges to Indian democracy .
Indian subcontinent is the house of may nations and ethnic groups . These groups have their own customs , tradition , way of life and they put more loyalties and pride in their ethnicity then their religion and nationality.
We have seen the example of Pakistan , who tried to create a homogenous society in the name of ISLAM and with the slogans “Hum sab musalman hain” ,hoping that religion will be the glue to keep the different ethnicity together even without a cumbersome democracy. First causality was in the form of Bangladesh , Bengoli ethnicity came out of Islamic glue ,when their tradition and culture was ridiculed and humiliated by the powerful Punjabi ethnicity , it was a loss for Pakistan and setback for Muslim ummat.
To day in Pakistan , there is very visible divide on ethnic lines , Baloch are all out for freedom and it can happen at any time , Sindhi , Mohajir , Hazara , Pakhtun , Pathan and Punjabi ethnicity are suspicious with each other . So, it’s clear in this subcontinent Ethnic affiliation is far more emotional issue and people has very clear priority ,ethnicity comes on top of priority compare to religion and nationality .
USSR broke into numerous countries formed basically on ethnic basis , so monolithic and homogenous society created by the name of nationality can’t survive too.
We can change our faith in two minutes ,can change our nationality in manageable time , but never our ethnic linage.
In India , we never faced such a situation because in democratic process , there are ways to address the concerns of each tribe, community , ethnic group and region . There was agitation some time violent but resolved as their concerns accommodated over the time .
Now , We are facing a situation where we are getting the impression ,(1)that in the name of religion “Hindu” , we should abandon our ethnic traditions and custom (2)Because we are Indian we should subdue to Indian constitution , even though it is oppressive on our custom .And we don’t have any right to follow the tradition and culture of our community and ethnicity.
Either we should learn from history and present state of Pakistan and Russia or be ready to face the repetition of history. Ignorance is no excuse .
For us we have options lined up
(1) Easiest way is to accommodate the tradition of the community , 4 -5 Crore in numbers , in the Hindu Marriage act . HMA also acknowledge “Custom and usage signify any rule which having been continuously and uniformly observed for a long time ,has obtained the force of law among Hindus in any local area , tribe ,community, group of family.”
(2) Next option is , We are ready to severe our association with Hindu religion , we were always on the fringe and were loggerhead with the puranic/Bhrahmenical mindset . We never bow down to rigid and inhumane practices , massacre of Buddhists in the name of religion , sacrifice of animals , ritual on the basis of false purans , Sati … list is long . On the contrary we observes widow marriage . All these things kept us on the fringe of Hindu religion and were never a complete Hindu.
So if people will keep on imposing us the custom of Hindus , under the disguise of Hindu marriage act . We should call us ourselves non-Hindu , and demand our right as minority religion , like Sikh & Muslim.
(3) Finally , In the case of continuous oppression by the hand of these Hindus , in their pursuit of creating a homogenous religion and from state who don’t want to acknowledge our ethnic identity and culture and want to force the constitutional clause of marriage , those are against the belief and ethos of our community. We should approach the UN and other world bodies and raise the issue that in Indian state our ethnic community’s culture and tradition is not safe and not being protected and we are facing soft ethnic cleansing, so need a separate homeland , like Kurd are demanding in Iraq and Turkey , Jews got Israel .
The core issue we have is the avoiding of marriage in same bloodline or clan ( also known as Gotra , but like Hindu , word ‘Gotra’ has different meaning to different person ) and in same village. Nobody stopping anybody marrying outside clan and outside community , so this is outward thinking not inward.
Bloodline make the clan members brother and sister , and we have our bloodline and clan linage very clear , so same clan marriage is unacceptable in Jat communities .
There are few confused voices like , jagmati sangwan , Surjewala.. . But , do they have the temerity to come and openly state that their son /daughter will marry in the same clan , if not ,then such people should stop earning brownie points in public forum.
If we respect our parents , our elders , is it because of our culture or because of constitution ? . If there is no marriage between real brother and sister or between cousins , is it just because that it’s prohibited in constitution , else we were ready for it ?
If we are so vociferous about the “personal choice” , then why such prohibiting degree in Hindu marriage act , doesn’t it restrict the personal choice… so let loose and even allow the marriage between real brother and sister and within cousins.
Because these prohibiting degree is also outcome of some concept and culture , like avoiding marriage in Clan is a concept and culture . Then how one concept can be right and other is wrong .
Those who misguide on debates that young generation is not with Khap , I would say they are living in fools paradise . Every young Jat , Gujjar , Ahir has the same views , whether he’s in village or earning his living in city as professional , businessman. These young people are dismayed to see , how their culture and traditions are being falsely implicated and attacked by the media .
Recently , there were killing in Jharkhand , Allahabad and Punjab , there is no khap , then why such killing is happening ? , because as per media reports it’s Khap who encourage such killings.
Father of Nirupma Pathak ,clearly mention in one of his letter to Nirupama “ our Sanatan Dharma does not allow marriage outside the caste” . Then why didn’t a single news channel went to Shankaracharya and ask for explanation of ‘Sanatan Dharma” and why marriage outside cast not allowed , or demand for the ban on Shankaracharyas because these are flag bearer of Sanatan Dharma.
This is clear indication that media largely controlled by these forces/communities who want to malign the image of Jats , are just after Khap , without knowing the truth, history and social sensibility.
