The origin of caste system in India was based on the vocation of the persons or group of persons. But gradually it embedded deep into the roots of our social system and values in as much the marriages were performed strictly within the caste and sometimes strictly amongst the sub castes.
Times have changed and now the youngsters wish to choose their life partners on the basis of their education, vocation and compatibility and not solely on their caste & creed. Education has widened their vision and thinking and they have risen above the boundaries of caste and creed. But the elders have placed barriers and taboos with regards to choice of life partners outside their castes. This is creating difficulties for the youth to decide their life Partners as per their preferences and choice. Castes are becoming deterrent in the way of both arranged as well as love marriages and there is rising discontent amongst the youth in this domain.
The Gujarat High Court realised this problem of the youth. In the criminal case of Niteshkumar Mulchandbhai Prajapati vs State of Gujarat, a bench of the Gujrat High Court were pinched by the prevalent caste system and their impact on budding lovers who wish to settle in matrimonial alliances outside their castes. The Court while granting police protection to the young couple aptly remarked thus:
“We also notice that the caste system in the country is making it more and more difficult for the young people to decide their own life partner and the rigidity in the minds of adults in the family becomes the serious cause of division of human relationship. It is also making it extremely difficult for the administration to handle this social and emotional upheaval which eventually turn into legal battleground.”
The Court also ordered Mediation & Conciliation in this matter and remarked thus:
“By way of social policing, attempt can also be made by the officer concerned who is investigating the earlier complaint of the petitioner filed against family members of the corpus and to make an attempt to bring an amicable solution between the families.”
It is incumbent upon the elders and more responsible members of the family to become flexible and modern in their approach and weigh the decisions of their grown up children in the right & wider perspective for the peace, harmony and future prospects of their family & it’s constituents.
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