Bhiwani, Haryana, Nov 4: Neelam Sharma, an IFS officer of 2009 cadre posted in Moscow and Kuldip Yadav, an IAS officer of the same batch posted as ADM in Godhra, Gujarat, decided to marry on November 8, but there was a small hitch.
The Satrah Gaon Khap (Khap of 17 villages) decided that the marriage was inter-caste (Neelam is a Brahmin and Kuldip as his surname suggests is a Yadav) and the village can't host a marriage party coming from some other caste.
On October 21, the Khap panchayat decided that (1) Neelam's bridegroom's party will not be allowed inside Pattharwali village, (2) a bridegroom belonging to another caste cannot enter the village wearing a 'sehra' (turban), and (3) if the marriage party enters, the villagers would boycott it.
Neelam then decided to arrange a wedding elsewhere and not in her village and her father Ram Kumar Sharma sided with her.
But in Baldhan village in Rewari, the bridegroom's family is an upbeat mood. Wedding cards are being distributed and all wedding arrangements are in full swing.
Says Mahavir Sharma, the mukhiya of Neelam's village: "We can't approve this inter-caste marriage. Let them host the wedding elsewhere." The wedding may now be hosted in some other village or in Delhi.
It was Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hudda who had honoured both Neelam and Kuldip with Rs 50,000 reward each on joining the Civil Services. Even the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had honoured Neelam Sharma.
But ultimately, the Khap had its way.
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