In Rajasthan, A Man And Woman Were Made To Bathe Publicly By The Panchayat. Why Is Respect So Easily Dismissed?

India is a lot of things- cultural, festive, overly populated but the one thing we are not is flexible with our thinking. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country but I really wish people would understand just how important it is to move forward with the times. Like for instance, a few weeks ago, we heard about a case where a woman was beaten to death because the villagers believed her to be a witch. The mentality of most of the population seems to have gotten stuck? There are local, kangaroo courts that govern villages and they have the most absurd and inhumane punishments for the simplest of crimes. 

Of course, the incident we are discussing today is not a simple crime. In fact, it’s not a crime, per se, at all. You see, a young couple in Rajasthan’s Sikar district were asked to strip naked and bathe in front of hundreds of people. This was done a punishment because the villagers believed them to be having an affair. 

Reportedly, the local Panch-Patels of the Sansi tribe who form a virtual Khap Panchayat inflicted this horrid punishment in order to ‘purify’ the couple. The Khap Panchayat also imposed, on the couple, a fine of Rs 53,000. 

I’m sorry but how does having a bath with hundreds of people watching supposed to purify anyone? These local panchayats hide behind their traditions, values and superstitions to propel these ridiculous notions even further. This punishment is not only humiliating but just think about what that woman must’ve gone through standing there naked and being forced to bathe while people stare at her. It’s devastating and inhumane. 

A young couple was allegedly made to bathe naked in front of hundreds of people in Rajasthan's Sikar district to ‘atone for the sin of illicit relation’ and also imposed a fine of Rs 53,000 on them. @asnaniraajesh https://t.co/DK8WhXiZp6

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 2, 2020

The couple, hailing from Sikar Sola village, are allegedly related to each other as aunt and nephew. This incident took place on 21 August. Hundreds of people came together to watch them bathe to ‘atone for the sin of illicit relation’. 

A few weeks ago, an objectionable video of the couple was made secretly and had gone viral. After that, they were ostracized and made to pay the fine and bathe publicly. Once the fines were paid and the couple was “purified” the couple and their families were allowed back in the social circles. And well, the money was pocketed by the Khap members. This certainly explains a lot, doesn’t it? They had an entertainment show and earned a butt load of money. What a convenient punishment. 

The matter came to light on Tuesday, when some members of the Sansi Development Council submitted a memorandum to the Sikar district police administration. On the basis of this, a complaint has been filed against nine people. 

Addl SP of Sikar Devendra Sharma said, “It was with the consent of their families that the young couple were bathed. We have questioned the woman’s in-laws and even the victim herself. The CO of the SC-ST Cell and CO of Laxmangarh have been sent to the village for investigation.” 

Also Read: #Trending: A Woman From MP Was Forced To Carry Her Husband On Her Shoulders And Walk Around Because The Husband Suspected She Was Having An Affair

https://www.instagram.com/p/CErLJGphrFO/?igshid=y5c9p3ormocv

According to reports, these Panch-patels of these communities often exploit situations to harass the poor and illiterate families in their tribes. They function arbitrarily and terrorize people belonging to the backward Sansi tribe by imposing ridiculously heavy fines. Complaints against them have been filed with the Rajasthan Women’s Commission as well. But until now, no action has been taken. 

In this case, I understand that incest is extremely frowned upon but the punishment they faced was shameful. The worst part is that out of the hundred spectators who gathered to watch them bathe nobody thought of stopping this bullshit. Are they really that brainwashed? The problem is not illiteracy or poverty or even lack of entertainment, it’s that there is a complete disregard for law and order and mainly, respect. The chiefs go around humiliating whoever they feel like with whatever bizarre punishment that comes to their mind. It’s extremely messed up. 

These punishments really reflect the backward mentality of our population.

https://thehauterfly.com/lifestyle/this-woman-and-man-were-publicly-shamed-tonsured-and-paraded-around-in-a-village-in-up-because-they-were-friends/