In Nepal, where the caste system is deeply
entrenched and maintained through arranged marriages, elopement is the only way
to marry for love. But when the partner is an untouchable, conservatives punish
the lovers with violence, ethnic cleansing, and even death in order to maintain
the system.
Twenty-five-year-old
Manoj leads the narration. His elopement with Parbati, twenty-two, in 2003 led
to ethnic cleansing in his village. Hundreds of high-caste men attacked the
around eighty untouchables, in a bid to drive them out and “purify” the
village, putting the lovers under extreme pressure to separate.
Similarly, when
Khadga, twenty-three, and Jaisara, twenty-one, eloped in 2008, violence between
high-caste and untouchables erupted in the village. The lovers hid in a forest
for several days to escape the wrath of Jaisara’s parents, who wanted to see
them dead. They lost their way in the thick
jungle and nearly starved to death.
In a tale of police
brutality, 22 year old Shyam, a milk vendor, eloped Saraswoti (21) in 2010. Her
parents then bribed the police, who raided the village, tortured Shyam’s
father, injured dozens of untouchables, and took Saraswoti away to be married
to a man of her caste.
In a sensational
court case, Kishor, a 21 year old student who ran away with 17 year old Ranjana
in 2010 was charged with kidnapping and seducing a minor. The judge
controversially dismissed the case against him, which was a victory for all
Nepali youth who believe in love.
In a touching tale of
murder, Rajib came into town to learn the craft of his caste from his uncle,
who owned a jewel shop. But within four months, he fell madly in love with
Sabina. Her family could not accept the relationship. The lovers were found
hanging on a single shawl in the jungle, a chilling warning to the society that
inter-caste relationships are not tolerated.
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