These measures mark an improvement on past practices. But we must ask if the mass marriage that took place in the concerned village is really a step forward. The key to the issue is the recognition of the right of all adults – men and women – to choose their spouses. Measures that prevent this are evidence of a retrogressive mindset. There is also some uncertainty over just how much license the young women in the village, realistically speaking, had to reject the partners selected for them. Inevitably, social pressures must have played a role in their decisions. It is also likely coercion would have come into play had they refused.
It often seems we live in medieval times. The decisions taken by councils of villagers conform to this pattern. These councils are of course, invariably, made up solely of men. This of course is one reason why the decisions they make so seldom serve the needs of women. We need to move away from these forums as a means to dispense justice and towards a more universal application of the law of the land. This must be combined with steps that lead towards the empowerment of women and the creation of more open mindsets at all levels in our society.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
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