caste-less marriage

Satyashodhak way

Jyotirao Phule

Republic Day

Constitution of India

Kolhapur district

In India, caste and religion play an important role in marriage, as most parents try finding a partner from their own community for their child. Bypassing this societal norm, a couple from Pune has decided to set an example of caste-less marriage, by getting hitched the, a concept coined by Mahatmawhere a marriage takes place without a priest and the usual rituals.Sachin Asha Subhash and Sharvari Surekha Arun are all set to tie the knot onby following the Satyashodhak way of marriage, and have hid their caste from each other’s families.Changing the rituals in marriage and reforming them as per their beliefs, they believe that their marriage is based on the. Sharing seven vows, the couple will tie the knot on the basis of seven principles like truth, love, non-violence, hard-work, development, conscience and good will towards fellow humans.The two met each other about two years ago while involved in some social work. Sachin, a 26-year-old has completed his Bachelors in Law and works for an NGO engaged in spreading awareness regarding menstrual hygiene. Talking to Mirror about his marriage, he said, “Both of us do not follow any caste and also do not use our family surnames. We have purposely not informed our castes to our parents and believe that caste should never be criteria for marriage. We have also changed a few rituals in the marriage and would get married the Satyashodhak way.”As per these marriage rituals, the couple has also made 12 pointers based on the Constitution of India which they would like to include in their life post marriage. Points like no gender disparity, individual choices over children to be considered, and working for social cause throughout their life are included in their version of marriage.Sharvari, a 28-year-old, has completed her Masters in Applied Lingustic and runs her own NGO and pre-primary school. “I have always worked with various social organisations like Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and personally do not believe in caste. It was a bold decision of not telling our castes to our families but now everyone has supported our decision.”Talking about the rituals, she added, “We have changed the rituals and do not believe in ‘Kanyadan’ as we feel that daughters are not the properties and words like Dan (donation) should not be used. We have also finalised seven vows, rather principles in life, which will replace the Saptapadi ritual.”Sachin belongs to a small village named Karmala in Solapur while Sharvari is a native of Chandgad in. The two wish to set-up a library in their respective villages and have requested their guests to gift books in their marriage.The couple did not look for an auspicious time to get married by consulting some pujari, but instead decided the date to be January 26, out of importance of the day for our country.Nitin Pawar, a social activist, said, “There is no mediator in Satyashodhak weddings and the vows are exchanged between bride and groom by seeking blessings of their parents, ancestors and respecting nature. In Hindu weddings, usually rice grains are thrown as blessing on the couple, but this gets replaced with flowers in the Satyashodhak way. Off late, as people have started awakening to Mahatma Phule’s thoughts, weddings based on the Satyashodhak way have increased in number.”