UP: Dalit man wins over casteism; allowed to take wedding procession in Kasganj

In a case of significant victory over casteism in cast-sensitive Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit man was finally allowed to take out his wedding procession through a Thakur-dominated village in Kasganj district.

Sanjay Jatav, the 27-year-old law student will now be able to ride a horse to his wedding venue on April 20.

Earlier, the upper-caste Thakurs of the Nizampura village refuted to allow the Dalit wedding procession to enter the area.

Meanwhile, Jadav complained the district administration about the mess and also sought Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's intervention to solve the matter.

However, Kasganj administration had given no assurance to negotiate the matter and several failed discussions between Jatav and the Thakurs kept their difficulty on the edge over a month.

Even Allahabad High Court had rejected Jadav's petition and advised him to talk to local police.

Finally, the Thakurs relented and agreed to let his procession pass after district magistrate R P Singh on Sunday negotiated the matter between the two sides.

Both sides have signed a compromise letter during the meeting.

"No political or apolitical party will be part of the baraat because of who peace can be broken/no persons in the baraat will carry weapons or arms or consume any alcoholic substances/no one will use any loud instruments or make objectionable speeches or words…all people will maintain peace when the wedding is on," the letter reads.

However, Jatav finally agreed to a route which is not exactly the one he asked for but one that passes a primary school and leads to one of the four inner village lanes.

"I had specified my conditions to the administration and after deliberations, I was given permission to take out the procession," a leading portal quoted Jatav.

"It has been going on years. Thakurs could pass through any village, but Dalits were kept away. We weren't allowed to come near houses. I had decided to fight till the end. I am happy that this has finally happened. This is a victory for all of us fighting for equality," Jatav added.

However, owing to the Section 144, being imposed across Kasganj district, Jatav and his family were advised to say nothing objectionable hurting the sentiments of other communities during the wedding procession.