Couple humiliated for inter-caste marriage in Koraput

Bhubaneswar: Just days after the family of a former Nabarangpur MLA was allegedly ostracised by their community for his daughter’s inter-caste marriage, a similar incident has come to light in Koraput district, underscoring the persistent grip of rigid caste traditions in some pockets of Odisha.

A young man, Maheswar Khila from the Mali community, faced harsh social penalties following his marriage with a woman from the Rana community. Both are residents of Kumbhar Sahi in Jeypore town.

According to sources, the couple, aware of the ramification of the inter-caste relationship, chose to marry anyway. They eloped and stayed away from home for several days to avoid immediate confrontation. However, when he returned home with his bride, the Mali community agreed to accept the marriage but only on strict conditions rooted in longstanding customary norms.

As part of the resolution, Maheswar was forcibly tonsured, while the bride’s hair was cut in front of community members. They were also asked to host a feast for the community and pay a substantial fine of Rs 90,000. These rituals took place at a secluded site in Machhara forest area near Jeypore, and were attended by community members, including elders, youth, and even some educated individuals.

Once the conditions were met, community elders formally approved the bride’s entry into her husband’s home, allowing the couple to begin their married life within the fold. A person from the Mali community defended the punishments as traditional and longstanding measures to uphold caste boundaries.

The incident, however, has sparked widespread concern over the continued prevalence of such regressive practices despite legal safeguards for inter-caste marriages.