Mandar Matters

 The title of our blog uses "matters" as both a noun and a verb. In other words, we are first going to discuss what happened to Mandar, and next why it matters, why society should address it, and very seriously. 

First, the Mandar matters, that is, the actual gory event, the fearsome incident. Mandar Ajit Ranade (35), a father of two, was an astrologer, priest and matchmaker from Ichalkaranji. On October 31, he was found brutally murdered near Nipani. 

The reason? He facilitated the intercaste marriage of Deepak Anna, alias Babaso/ Babasaheb, Magdum's daughter! Apparently, this marriage made the Village Shiradwood resident feel that his honour got thus sullied in the village. The matchmaker was lured under the pretext of fixing another marriage, chilli powder was thrown in his eyes, and his throat was slit with a sharp edged weapon!

Now the discussion of why this should matter. To begin with, if the Magdum daughter loved and wanted to marry her beau beyond the caste, how is a matchmaker responsible for it? At least, he wedded them legally. How about the much touted issue of encouraging  intercaste marriages? 

That precisely is why, this murder matters. If the victim had belonged to any other caste, by now, the so-called liberal, democratic, open-minded, et al, public would have literally painted the state red. Right now, there is such a pin drop silence, but who hears the poor widow's sobs?

That precisely is the issue. So hardened is the caste identity that social outrage is decided by the caste of the victim! As for Brahmins, they are forever there en masse to be blamed for the so-called five thousand years old Brahminical Manuwad, et al. Unhappy days are here indeed!

Pratima@ Caste injustice must be avoided, and against all castes. Even if the Brahmin caste is a much maligned minority, conveniently an injustice cannot be thus overlooked. Otherwise, society would truly be a Tower of Babel where shrill voices refuse to even hear each other out! 

Quote of the day:                                                             Harbans Lal Badhan asserts, “Indian Caste system is more dangerous and harmful than chemical weapons. It divides the society and state... It is an enemy of social justice, equality, liberty and fraternity.”

Word of the day: Brahminical                                   Actually, this dominating tendency of power and aggression is hugely present in and across all castes!