Author: DP Bhattacharya
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: March 9, 2008
Introduction: Kolis sign community constitution
refusing to accept or give money during daughter's marriage
Like many others from the Koli community across
several villages in the Bhal region, Champaben from Khun village in Dhanduka
taluka in Ahmedabad district, got her daughter married off last year - but
with a major difference. Unlike others from the community, this daily wage
earner refused to accept money; traditionally due, to her as a bride price.
Champaben is one of the many from the community,
who are saying no to this age-old tradition, which was pushing the community
to the brink of penury.
And all this is the result of the efforts
of one dalit woman, Debuben Pandya, who got the Koli community of 52 villages
Gater 66 villages) across the Bhal region say no to bride price. To top it
all, she also got a community constitution signed by community elders in a
meeting at Gogla village at Dhanduka.
The Indian Express had reported the brave
struggle of this sixty-one-year-old lady last year on Women's Day.
"I don't think I lost an opportunity
to make money," says Champaben. While this landless, illiterate woman
works as a daily labourer, she was rather clear on her decision. "Not
every body is willing to accept this decision of not taking bride price, but
I decided not to sell off my only child and I don't regret it," she says.
"We have many in this village, who have
not taken bride-price," says Chotubhai Ranghani, the former sarpanch
of the village. "But then this is a tradition, deeply entrenched in the
social psyche and not every one is ready as yet," he adds.
Initially the Constitution was drafted for
52 Villages, but later 14 villages of Dhanuka taluka met members of Mahiti;
the organisation founded and run by Debuben, and decided to implement it with
minor changes.
"While these 14 villages are implementing
the decision of stopping this practice, the others are on the way," adds
Bhanjibhai Khasia from Mahiti. "The journey is not so easy and we are
still working with the community. The tradition has spread its roots far deeper
in the community than one can perceive, but there are perceptible changes.
In the last one year, about 15 villages in Bhavnagar and 14 in Dhanduka have
adopted the Constitution and are implementing it," says Debuben.
The dilemma is evident with Narsi Ranghani,
another daily wage earner from Khun village, who got his only daughter married
off last year without taking money. ''While I did not take money for my daughter,
I am not too sure what will happen to , my son once he grows up. I hope things
will change by then," he says.
Debuben says the community has seen: the ill
effects of this practice and how young men of marriageable age frequent the
roadside brothels and contract AIDS, just because they cannot buy a wife for
them.
