Falling obsolete modes and norms; new lease of life for young people

Haryana is a tiny state situated in the proximity of national capital. Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand are on it's east, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab is on it's north side whereas Rajasthan is situated in western side. Predominantly it is a rural society with huge population living in the villages. Although city centers, education, advent of new technology and scientific development has influenced the economy of the state and living style as well. Agriculture, the chief vocation of rural Haryanvi society and it has undergone tremendous change in the last five decades. Agriculture is now more scientific and more productive compared to days when Haryana was carved out from Punjab in 1966. Good income and new opportunities available changed the scenario of rural Haryana in many ways. Land tenure system has changed significantly and relation between communities as well. Increasing population has drastically shortened the land share and ownership per family. But on the same time new avenues developed in terms of job opportunities created in both public and private sector and this is largely because of spread and availability of education in villages and nearby city centers. And it couldn't be restricted to males but more females found chance to go to school and later on to colleges and universities. Although Haryanvi society remained predominantly rigid and introvert. Rural society is generally governed by norms, mode and dictum of their males. In short it is a patriarchal society where women are relegated to second fiddle abysmally and they have very little to their side if it comes to   decision making. Although elected Gram Panchayats are technically govern the villages since 1952 and 73rd amendment to constitution has improved the status, functions and working of village Panchayts. Now 1/3rd offices are reserved for women. 

Historically Haryana is a part of that land mass that has witnessed great wars and battles in its planes. The oldest civilization is said to be existed in this state. Rural society has been in influence and govern of "Khaps" since time immemorial. These Khaps have been a source and seat of delivering justice to common man. These were the informal organisation to guide and guarantee the implementation of social norms, modes and manage the variegated social contradictions. Centuries after centuries passed and these Khaps have discharged their duties and responsibilities holding the dictum of justice and it's deliverance. Unfortunately with the change of time,it was expected that these (Khaps)) will adorn the new role in the changed circumstances but  these couldn't   change themselves to demands of new urgency and requirements of the society. Once the torch bearer of equity and justness slipped into the informal organisation of crudity and cruelty where every change is opposed tooth and nail on the name of saving social values and brotherhood. Over the time these Nobel organisations attained the symbol and recognizance of brutality, intolerance and unjust. These organisations are now headed by the skewed minded so called lords. They have no respect for new changes, new values, new exigencies created by newer model of development and education although enjoys all the fruits of such happenings. Women and down trodden people are the easiest prey of the decisions of these conglomeration of hood looms (in modern context). 

Haryana is a state which is governed by such Khaps for centuries if social set up is considered. Almost all castes have their own Khaps to rule their societies. And interestingly all behave in similar way. Women are at the receiving end and young women and newly wed couples who dares to defy the so called norms created by them. In recent times, such Khaps have been in news for all wrong reasons. "Honor killings" of young couples who tie the nuptial knots against the crude rules of society. The mate choice is mercilessly restricted among st the clans, castes, sub-castes, village, group of villages aka Khap segments. Many a couples have to sacrifice their lives on the altar of their love. And such happenings haunts the young minds and they have to curb their natural affinity for someone who rules their heart. In the hind sight the role, dictate and fear of Khap is prominent. For last few years, a continuous demand is churning the round in the society to relook the thought process and actions of Khaps. "The Satrol Khap" that is a conglomeration of  four "Tapas" (sub segment)  namely Narnaund, Petwad, Baas and  Ugalan of 42 villages around Narnaund area of Hisar district has dared to challenge the tradition and rigid norms established to govern the marriages wherein families couldn't select mate for their wards within the range of 42 villages instead Gotra (sub caste) of mother, grand mother and other Gotra of the village and this situation has make the situation very grim and hopeless for mate selection resultant people have to look for brides in far flung areas and this has created an unpleasant and awkward situation. Inhabitants of the area particularly of young people have been asking to change this unreasonable and unpractical situation. It is necessary to mention here that this area is the place where once the oldest human civilization "Mohanjodaro" believed to be existed. Archaeological excavation at Rakhi Khas and Rakhi Garhi proves this notion. Perhaps the area of the oldest civilization at forefront to re-establish the humane and rationale values. The deliberations and discussion on this vital issue brought fruit in the third week of April,2014 when Khap leaders decided to dissolve this 700 years old tradition where matrimonial alliance were forbidden in 42 villages of 4 Tapas of Satrol Khap. It is not a small decision but a historical leap under the modern exigencies, needs, requirements of the society. Families of the area were abysmally cornered to find a suitable match for their kids. On the face it looks simple decision but if analysed deeply it'll emanates the bounding desire to free the society and human minds from the shackles of age old retrogressive tradition and create an environment that would bind the society with the new sentiments of freedom and liberty. Although some voice of dissent is being heard from a section of Khap but it seems it'll die it's own death as progressive thought always  prevails. And it's success is guaranteed because this decision has given new lease of life to young lads of the area and their vocal and reasonable support will make the new dawn a reality. Two families of the village Rajthal and Madan Heri decided to break this age old tradition that now has become obsolete by arranging and accepting the marriage alliance within the Satrol Khap. The pioneering step of these two families is   worth appreciation and will definitely pave the way of for making more rationale and just society that will be free from unnecessary bondage. Time is watching the new development with all curiosity and in coming days some other obsolete norms and modes will fall flat against rational and reason. New breeze is now blowing in the area where once oldest civilization flourished and surely engross whole of Haryana soon. The process of positive change that has been set in couldn't be reversed.  

Khap: A body of organisation of cluster of villages.
Satrol Khap: An organisation of 42 villages of Narnaund area.
Tapa: A sub segment or constituent of Khap.
Mohanjodaro: Oldest civilization of world.
Gotra: Sub Caste

SOCIAL TABOO-A HYPOCRISY: आधी दुनिया की पूरी कहानी

SOCIAL TABOO-A HYPOCRISY: आधी दुनिया की पूरी कहानी

Feroz Shah's Hisar-on the pinnacle of hypocrisy of variegated nature

            General  Election to the lower house of the parliament has just been concluded on 10.04.2014. Last one month has witnessed the biggest upheaval laced with vigorous campaign and malice propaganda by all political parties of  national and state political parties. Other small outfits and individuals didn't rest behind. Over the time the electioneering has changed significantly. Posters/visuals or other means gave way to people to people contact. Given this situation, expenditure should be less but it has increased manifold. And it shows money in election has changed its form in influencing the voters' behavior and pattern. It becomes evident that election that is the only tool to make the democracy vibrant and alive permits only the big players to play this game of inequality. It in itself is the biggest hypocrisy where constitute surmises that all are equal and could be a part of law makers but in actual practice commoners are not allowed to use their adult suffrage according to their volition. "Reigs" model for developing societies seems operating in real preposition and setting which postulates 'what is advocated is altogether reversed in practice'. 

          Election is the single most process which involves whole of India. People are made to think as if they are the real maker of their own destiny. And during this phase every individual is far better than any trained psephologist. Every nook and corner, tea stall, chaupal, any function, railway station, bus stand or any place where there is a possibility of congression of few people we find the best of talent at display in calculations of poll results. The main theme of "free,fair and fearless" use of ballot and deciding the fate of nation seems real and at the same time hollow. It is so because elections are fought on the lines of caste,creed,religion,region,money power or any such permutations and contradictions presumably elections are fought on the basis of policies, programmes and responsible behavior. It is presumed that every voter is free to cast his/her vote according to sweet will. 

        India is the biggest democracy world over. 28 states and 6 UTs are distributed with 543 parliamentary constituencies. India has witnessed  regime led by the oldest Political Party for the last 10 years in trot. Let the voter decide or judge the fate. Here behavior of the voter is discussed socio-politico-economical transgression and how this phenomenon influences the voting behaviour of common man. Haryana is a small state and most of its part falls in NCR. Being close to national capital, it's importance manifests manifold. Every small and big incident is reported prominently. People of Haryana  are used to take advantage of this vicinity and sometimes ugly face is at fore like that they will block the water supply, milk and other essentials to national capital. It's short of a tendency of "blackmail". 10 parliamentary seats are contributed by this small state. Hisar is one of the most important district of Haryana and represents the crux of Haryanvi culture and it's inherent contradictions. This is the area that has witnessed stark and virulent contradictions on caste lines particularly two major blocks namely Jat and Non-Jat. These contradictions have been very significant for the last five or so years. These contradictions have at the fore in deciding the voters behaviour and  voting pattern. 41 candidates are in fray from this parliamentary constituency included all major political parties. It suggests how vibrant and inclusive our democracy has grown over the time but if we scrutinise the seriousness of candidates, we will find how stoutly the election process is managed or thwarted when we find seven candidates named Kuldeep to sabotage the chances of one single candidate of major regional party. Out of 41, almost 35 candidates are dummy who are put by other major players to waste or cut the vote share of others. These are popularly known as "vote cutters". Here it is significant to note  that "by election" held in 2011, one candidate got the election symbol "Road Roller" with certain resemblance to "Tractor" and interestingly this unknown candidate was fourth in the tally. This amply shows that how democratic our approach is! 

           In this election, if one thinks that political parties has sought the voters support on the principles enshrined in constitution and different statutes governing election process is making himself fool. And it's very clear now if we look at the fall out of voting pattern. It is the other thing that theoretically elections should be fought on issues affecting common man positively or negatively. Programmes and policies should be central but world knows how India reacts in its elections. In Haryana, elections are fought on crude sentiments of caste or blocks of certain castes popularly known as "Jats and Non-Jats". Division of voters on caste line has been engineered deliberately to ease the process of vote catching. This design suits some and also put some other political parties at visible disadvantage. This has resulted in rise of "new breed of caste lords" who preaches the hatred amongst people on the name of caste to execute their well thought game plan to garner benefit of different hues such as socio-politico-economical significance. Issues like development, welfare measures, better administrative delivery system, dearness, employment for youths, education, security, social issues like women safety, decriminalization of social set up, gender equity etc lagged behind hopelessly. It is apparent that such huge and magnanimous social divide will further fragment the society post election. 

           Hisar has been the battleground for caste conflicts and movements for the last four or five years prominent amongst them are infamous Mirchpur incident, Dabra rape episode of a Dalit girl, compelling circumstances to flee the Dalit villagers from Bhagana and again kidnapping and rape of four teenager girls of same village during the electioneering and Jat Reservation Movement for the last three-four years in a trot. All these major happenings affected the rural societies significantly. Caste divide is at it's zenith in Hisar. Jat Reservation Movement alienated the real backward classes from the bigger whole. Every village is experiencing this spark of ugly caste division particularly in this region.  A slight ignition could spoil and vitiate the village atmosphere on any flimsy ground. Here it is necessary to note that  caste lords of both blocks are engaged not to broker peace and deliberately sabotage every sincere effort made by rational elements. It is evident from the recent happenings that Dalits were deliberately dissuaded to return to their native place even liberally compensated by government. Still Mirchpur and Bhagana victims are resisting or more accurately made to resist. The other important happening in the area was "Jat reservation Movement" that not only stir this region but also whole of Haryana. The leadership of the movement and it's support base materialized it in reality. There is no use of commenting on its relevance or otherwise but one thing is abundantly clear that this was a crest fall upon the original backward classes on finding new companion on the same path. Government is more wicked and shrewd in its approach and it provided a toy of this new found "mantra" to placate the masses of forward castes without any such demand. Furthering the cause this year on 4th January government succeeded in notify this caste in Central list of OBCs and in the process it has failed those other four castes that has been included in SBC. The dumb Haryana shocked on this new development and sealed the fate of unison of Haryanvi society. It is pertinent to mention here that another long serving Chief Minister of Haryana played the same card to placate a section of SCs of Haryana way back in 1996. That game plan perhaps benefited him but segmented the Dalits of Haryana permanently and fruits of his sapling are now abounded the taste and vision of that particular section of oppressed class. If both these incidents are looked in composite, one thing is very clear that social fabric has torn beyond repair. 

           India has witnessed a new movement on the name of corruption and Lok Pal under the aegis of Anna. Whole of India stirred beyond expectations and a new hope of positive change engulfed the well fed middle class. The gamut of leadership of this new movement drawn from extreme left orientation in Arvind Kejriwal and Baba Ramdev on another extreme of right. Most others rest in the middle. This chaos resulted into the killing of faith in the well directed change. A new political outfit emerges from it with loaded hopes and favorable change. This is in one sense a positive development. But the actions of this new outfit are as hilarious as it's rise. Hisar is the home district of the main crusader of this movement. Rational people of Haryana in general and Hisar in particular have great hope but all this proved a bubble in stormy water when he picked a retired bureaucrat to contest this election from here who is known for his proximity to present Cheif Minister and who was used as a tool to unsettle the historic decision of cancelling the land mutations of Robert Vadra a scion of first family of India. So is he known as "blue eyed boy" of Chief Minister. The other major vocalist The Baba who is harping on bringing back "black money" staked in foreign nations to India ended it when he vigorously campaigned in favour of the young lad of another prominent dynasty of Haryana. The tendencies and contradictions at fore in Hisar are not isolated but an offshoot of happening in Haryana. This well developed state in terms of per capita income and use of modern facilities is hell bent upon to widen the gap between the communities in general and man to man in particular and experiencing the new range of backwardness in its forward castes. Political parties are seeking votes on caste lines spilling venom in the garb of 36 Biradari. This is the Hisar of Feroz Shah Tughlaq whose father wished to ameliorate the conditions of his nations on "leather coin". We are born hypocrite but this time hypocrisy is it's pinnacle. Who knows rationality finds way through these hypocritical tendencies!!!!

आधी दुनिया की पूरी कहानी

               

            मैं  नारी हूँ। यह तथ्य नहीं बल्कि एक ऐसी हकीकत है जिसके बिना इस संसार का वजूद नामुमकिन सा है। जब से यह सृष्टि बनी है हमारा रोल इस में किसी भी प्रकार कमतर नहीं रहा। ममनुष्य की उत्पत्ति औरउसे जिंदा रखने के लिए हमने ना केवल अपनी देह बल्कि अपना सर्वस्व दांव पर लगाया है। यूँ तो प्रकृति में सभी मादाओं ने अपनी  रेस को बनाने व बचाने में इसी प्रकार की भूमिका अदा की है। आरम्भ में सभी का योगदान क्षमता के अनुसार था। नारी चूंकि बच्चों को जन्म देकर पालती पोषती थी और घर भी चलाया करती थी सो उसका सम्मान भी कमोबेश ज्यादा ही था। आदमी ने कालांतर में प्रकृति पर विजय पाई और इस लड़ाई में भी वो बराबर की सांझीदार थी। समय ने करवट ली और औरत घर में ही बँधकर रह गयी। इस पर भी उसने एतराज ना किया। एतराज की बात भी ना थी। मरद बाहर काम करले और औरत घर सम्भाल ले। तय तो यही हुआ था। कौन जाने कि इसके पीछे मंशा क्या थी। 

                 यूँ तो देश और समाज में हमारी तादाद आधी है और इस दुनिया को जिंदा रखने में भी हमारा योगदान ज़यादा नहीं तो कम से कम आधा ज़रूर है यह भी हकीकत है कि हमारे वजूद को यदि नकारा नहीं गया तो इसे सही मायनों में सविकारा भी नहीं गया इस सृष्टी का कायम रहना महिलाओं के वजूद को स्वीकारे बिना सम्भव नहीं है मगर इन सब बातों का असर निश्चित तौर पर न केवल महिलाओं पर बल्कि पूरे समाज पर पड़ना लाजिमी है फिर भी सदियों से यही दास्ताँ बदस्तूर ज़ारी है हमारा समाज आज भी महान तुलसीजी के कालजयी कथन " ढोल, पशु, शुद्र नारी, यह सब ताड़न के अधिकारी " पर अमल करता प्रतीत हो रहा है आज भी नारी अबला है उसे आज भी अपने वजूद की लड़ाई और अधिक शिद्दत और मुखरता से लड़नी पड़ रही है बराबरी का सपना देखा है तो लड़ने से कैसा परहेज़

                   मैं भी एक ऐसी ही महिला हूँ मैंने भी दुनिया की धूप छाँव देखी है आस -पड़ोस में रोज़ नई- नई बातें सुन ने को मिल रही हैं कि सरकार गाँव देहात का नक्शा बदलने की मंशा रखती है मुझे भी अब लगने लगा है कि ज़रूर कुछ न कुछ बेहतर होगा हमारी भी ज़िन्दगी की नई सुबह होगी नवयोवनाओं को इज्ज़त और सम्मान के साथ साथ घर और समाज में पहचान मिलेगी चलो एक आशा कि किरण दिखने का आभास तो हुआ चलो कोई ना , बराबरी नहीं तो कोई बात नहीं मगर हमारे होने का तो आभास हो सका सुना है हमारे लिए एक नया मह्क़मा भी खड़ा किया है शायद अब सोच के स्तर पर भी कुछ न कुछ ज़रूर बदलेगा जब हमारा विकास होगा तो ही समाज और यह देश जीने लायक बन सकेगा शायद जल्द ही ऐसा मौक़ा मिले कि हमें भी अपने महिला होने पर गुमान हो आपको भी ऐसा देखकर अच्छा लगे , ऐसी तमन्ना है मेरी महिला और विकास नारा नहीं बल्कि एक हकीकत बनते देखने का अरमान है.