Family ostracised by community over inter-caste marriage | Bhubaneswar News
Koraput: In the heart of India’s rural landscape, where tradition often clashes with the winds of change, the story of Dhaniram Nag stands as a poignant testament to the enduring grip of social prejudices.Nestled in the remote village of Salebhatta under Chandhandi block in Nabarangpur district, Dhaniram’s life has been a relentless struggle against the chains of caste discrimination. For over two decades, he has faced ostracism from his own community, a harsh penalty for choosing love over societal norms.Dhaniram, who belongs to the Kausalya Gouda community, listed under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), has been leading a life of social exile since his marriage to Magsir, a woman from a lower caste of Saradhapur village in neighbouring Kalahandi district. It cost him his place in the community he was born into.“For 25 years, I was treated like an outcast. I am not allowed to take part in any village festivals, rituals, or community gatherings. I tried multiple times to make amends and requested the elders to accept me back, but all my appeals fell on deaf ears,” says Dhaniram. The weight of this social boycott has not just fallen on Dhaniram but on his entire family. When his father passed away a few years ago, he wasn’t allowed to perform the last rites in accordance with community customs. Now, he is also barred from performing religious rituals for his 11-year-old son.“This has not only been humiliating but also deeply painful. I am unable to fulfil my responsibilities as a father and a son,” says Dhaniram, his eyes welling with tears. He earns a modest livelihood through daily wage labour and cattle rearing.The fallout of this caste-driven ostracism has reached beyond his immediate family. According to villagers, around 60 other families who stood by Dhaniram or supported inter-caste unity were also boycotted. While 23 of them were eventually accepted back after paying a fine of Rs 10,000 each and performing purification rituals like head tonsuring, the remaining, including Dhaniram’s, continue to live in social exclusion.“We were punished for supporting Dhaniram. Our children are not allowed to mingle with others, and people treat us like untouchables. It’s a daily humiliation,” says Rupdhar Nag, one of the still-ostracised members.Even children have not been spared. They are reportedly being denied the right to freely associate with their peers or participate in school activities due to the social stigma imposed by the community.Local villager Dhaneswar Majhi echoes the sentiment of many who believe that the continued boycott is unjust. “We feel bad for Dhaniram’s family. They deserve to be reintegrated into the community,” he said.However, community leaders present a different version. Mastiram Bagarthi, president of the Kausalya Gouda community, claims that efforts were made to welcome Dhaniram and the others back into the fold.“We invited them four times to community meetings, but they never cooperated,” Bagarthi said. “Instead, they formed a separate group with their own president and office bearers. We cannot accept parallel leadership within the same community,” he added. Acknowledging the issue, Beheramunda panchayat sarpanch Chandrika Durua said though on several occasion efforts have been made to resolve the issue but owing to objections from the Kausalya Gouda community the family remains ostracised. “Despite several efforts from outside the issue remains unresolved. We hope the family is accepted by their community,” she said.
