Viva La Woman Power
BUTTERFLY: Nature Club of India
http://www.citizen-news.org/2010/04/viva-la-woman-power.html
Friday, 2 April 2010
It had to take the grit and determination of a woman (nay two women)
to bring to books the culprits in an honour killing of a young married
couple (Manoj and Babli), on the orders of a khap(caste) panchayat in
Haryana. Their crime was to marry for love despite belonging to the
same gotra (lineage), which so enraged their family members and local
community that they were abducted and murdered. Read more
Chandrapati, the widowed mother of Manoj, has earned the distinction
of being the first woman in Haryana to have taken on the dreaded khap
panchayat and fought a legal battle against the perpetrators of the
heinous crime. Chandrapati has done what even our so called leaders
and administrators could not dare to do. She dared to challenge the
credibility of these rural panchayats, which operate as a parallel
judicial system, enforcing a brutal form of justice.
And coming to the aid of Chandrapati was another woman of substance –
Vani Gopal Sharma – the additional district and sessions judge of
Karnal. In a landmark judgement, she awarded death penalty to 5
members of Babli’s family and life sentence to the head of the khap
panchayat for hatching a conspiracy to kill the couple.
In her 96 page long judgement the judge said, ‘the present case
reflects a long standing tradition of oppression against women. It has
to be curbed by legislation treating honour killings as a separate
offence. I wonder how such a progressive society could allow such
action in the name of community honour.’
The verdict sends a strong signal to these panchayats which have
become a law unto themselves, with the silent consent of politicians
and policemen, in some parts of India. According to one estimate,
every year, more than 100 men and women are either killed or forced to
commit suicide by khaps for not adhering to traditional norms. Even as
I write this piece, there is yet another news (Hindu paper dated
1.4.2010) of an apparent honour killing of a young couple in Punjab.
The victims, hailing from Firozpur, were provided police protection on
orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court after marrying against their
parents’ wishes. Yet, they were shot dead by 5 people in full public
view near Amritsar.
The verdict in Chandrapati’s case came after a tireless three years
long legal battle by her, when her life came to a standstill. Shunned
by her own people and community, she fought single handedly against
social orthodoxy. Her battle for justice, despite all odds and social
ostracism by the community, is a source of inspiration to all of us.
She was happy at the verdict, but wanted punishment for those also who
abetted and aided the crime. She wondered ‘How can people who kill our
children be trusted to mete out justice?’
Despite her rustic and traditional upbringing, Chandrapati has the
wisdom and courage to proclaim that children should have the freedom
to choose their life partners.
Many of us elite city folks would do well to learn a lesson or two
from her. It is not uncommon for highly educated urbanites to make
life hell for their grown up sons and daughters if they dare to go
against their parents’ dictat – be it choosing their life partner or
even a profession of their choice. I am shocked to see the
belligerent attitude of affluent families when it comes to marrying
outside ones’ caste, or marrying without dowry, or even refusing to
abort a female foetus. It seems that, as our horizons expand, our
vision is becoming narrower.
It is hoped that the newly enforced ‘Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education’ Act will be another important step in developing
progressive minds, free from social and religious bigotry and from
prejudices of caste , creed and cultures. It is also hoped that the
government amends the Indian Penal Code to make honour killings a
separate offence with appropriate punishment.
But mere enactment of laws will not do. Enforcement of laws must be
accompanied by a change in mindset. We need to educate ourselves and
our children to live in peace and harmony with each other. We need
many more Chandrapatis and Vanis.