Cross-cultural marriages: Tale of male domination and exploitation
If Malayalee brides Sreeja and Omna from Sorkhi village can be seen as an example of living a happy married life in Haryana’s Jat families, then Meera Deka (36) and Meena (23)from Guwahati in Assam have a contrasting tale to tell.
If Malayalee brides Sreeja and Omna from Sorkhi village can be seen as an example of living a happy married life in Haryana’s Jat families, then Meera Deka (36) and Meena (23)from Guwahati in Assam have a contrasting tale to tell.
Karamjit Mor’s father convinced a family in Assam in 2004 and brought Meera from her village, near Guwahati, to his native place in Hisar district. After Karamjit, a small-time farmer, died in a drunken brawl in 2008, Meera was made to marry Rajiv Lohan (younger brother Karamjit). Meera had two daughters from Karamjit and a son from Rajiv.
Talking to HT, Meera said she had not been to her house in Assam ever since she was brought to Haryana, which was an alien world to her at the age of 26. Somehow, she learnt to live with Karamjit in four years, but had to start it all over again as she was married to Rajiv, Karamjit’s younger brother, after his death.
Throwing light on her present condition, she said her children, Jyoti, the eldest one, Preeti and Atul are her life now and that she had learned to live in the maledominated society.
When this correspondent tried to know as to what led her parents marry her off to an unknown man in far-off Haryana, a male member of the family intervened and told the HT team to make a quiet leave from their house. Identifying himself a sepoy with the Delhi Police, he threatened to create a scene if they did not leave the house with all the respect.
Meera, who was trying to vent out her feelings in a hushed tone, could not say anything after the intervention by a male family member but her expressions defied her silence.