All that Manubhai Parmar — a Dalit — wanted for his son Mehul's wedding was a traditional varghodo (a marriage procession with the groom riding a horse). However, the decision came at a heavy price for his whole community in the Lahor village of Mehsana district as it allegedly led to their social ostracisation by the prominent Thakor community.

Trouble started when Mehul, who got married on May 7 in a mass marriage function, carried out a procession through the village of 1,600 residents of which 200 are Dalits while the rest are Thakors.

Reportedly, the village seniors, including sarpanch Vinuji Thakor, were unhappy about the move and the following day, called for a meeting of all villagers barring the Dalits. They then issued a diktat to the villagers to boycott the Dalit community members.

"Three Dalits who attended the meet said that the sarpanch and others had decided to socially boycott the Dalit families for daring to carry out the marriage procession," the FIR filed with the Bavdu police station states.

"Everyone in the village carries out a varghodo, but this was the first time a Dalit groom was riding a horse. It did not go down well with the villagers," said Parmar.

He added that when he decided to carry out the procession for his 24-year-old, others warned him not to do it. "They did not want traditions to be broken," said Parmar.

A day later, two Dalit woman went to buy groceries but were denied service. The sarpanch also allegedly announced a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone found interacting with the Dalits. "No one even gave us milk in the morning to make tea," said Parmar.

Even when he was filing the police complaint, some members of the Thakor community gheraoed the police station.

Manjita Vanzara, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said that a case of atrocity has been filed against five people including the sarpanch. "As of now, all of them are under arrest. They announced the boycott of Dalit families after one of the families took out a marriage procession on a horse. Some village leaders raised objections and asked the members of the community not to cross the limits," said Vanzara.

(with Agency inputs)

From A Bygone Era

• Mehul got married on May 7 in a mass marriage function and carried out a procession through the Lahor village, of which 200 are Dalits while the other 1,400 are Thakors
• Village seniors, including sarpanch Vinuji Thakor, were unhappy about it and the next day, called for a meeting of all villagers barring the Dalits. They then issued a diktat to boycott the Dalit community members