Wedding procession spurs social boycott in Gujarat

RAJKOT: A family of six persons including a man his wife, two sons, a daughter and a daughter-in-law have been ostracized by their community for taking out a marriage procession and allegedly violating the rules made by the Ghanchi Muslim community of Timbi village of Jafrabad taluka in Amreli district.
This is not the only family that has faced boycott by their own community.About five other families in the same village are facing a social and economic boycott for petty issues like playing music during a marriage or having a love marriage.
According to sources, the Ghanchi Muslim community members of the village had passed a resolution five years ago prohibiting members from taking out procession or using DJ music during weddings. They believed it to be inappropriate for people of the community to dance in public.
In the present case, 32-year-old Rafique Mansuri, a paan shop owner, had got married in March this year and had taken out a procession where he rode a mare. Rafique, who is two feet tall due to a genetic disorder Dwarfism, had married a girl from Gir Somnath district. She also has similar genetic disorder as Rafique.
Because Rafique rode a mare and took out a procession, his community members ostracized him and his family comprising of his father, mother, brother, sister and wife. Besides Rafique and his wife, his sister and brother also have Dwarfism.
The community members have also imposed a fine of 25 paise on the family.
President of Mansuri community Salman Katar said, “This family has been ostracized as they had violated the rules made by the community collectively.”
The family has sent legal notices through their advocate to the community leaders and is exploring other legal options.
“This is an arbitrary order. We are not invited to any social function and nobody from my community comes to my shop. This decision has ruined us socially and economically,” said Rafique.
His brother Rajak had sent seven letters to the community leaders with a request to end this social boycott. “I was called for a community meeting in May. But they rejected my request and imposed a fine of 25 paise with a message that like the 25 paise coin we too have lost value among the community,” said Rajak.