Girl marries lover with help of Rajasthan women commission

It was a happy day for Jyoti (18) and Manish Mahavar (22). The young couple entered wedlock in the presence of their families on Thursday. Their wedding, however, did not take place at a marriage hall or at their homes. It took place on the premises of the Rajasthan State Commission for Women and was organised by the officials of the commission.

On Monday, Jyoti had approached the commission and filed a complaint against her father and brother. In the complaint, she said that they had been given her electric shocks, had beaten her up and chopped her hair when she told them that she wanted to marry Manish. While the main objection was to the fact that Jyoti had chosen her own life partner, her family also didn’t like the fact that Manish belonged to a different caste.

Jyoti refused to return home as she was scared that more torture awaited her if she went back. The commission intervened and called Jyoti’s family on Tuesday and counselled them for 36 hours.

The commission’s chief Suman Sharma (centre) with the bride in Jaipur. (Prabhakar Sharma/HT )

“It was tough to convince them. First, it is an inter-caste marriage. Second, Jyoti’s family is narrow-minded. We had to use a number of tactics to make them realise that what they did was wrong and that the girl has a right to choose her life partner,” said the commission’s chief Suman Sharma. She said she didn’t want Jyoti to face any more harm.

On Wednesday, Sharma summoned Manish and his family to the office. After his family said that they had no objection to the marriage, the commission arranged a sit-down between both the families. By Wednesday evening, it was decided that Jyoti and Manish would tie the knot according to Hindu rituals on Thursday.

The commission was decorated with marigold flowers and leaves of Ashoka trees for the wedding. Jyoti beamed as a bride in a red saree while Manish wore a black suit. Both couldn’t contain their happiness.

The happy couple. (Prabhakar Sharma/HT Photo)

“I met Manish at a religious function four years ago. He works in event management and he had helped organise the function. We spoke to each other there for the first time and that’s how our love story began,” Jyoti said. “Everything was fine until I told my family in February this year that I wanted to get married to him,” she added.

Jyoti gave exams for Class 10 this year. She said she wants to study further and support herself financially.

Manish, who works part-time at a doctor’s clinic, said, “I’m happy that I got the life partner I wanted. I will always support and take care of her.”

Parents of both the bride and groom were present on the occasion and expressed their happiness over the union.