Missing brides in rural Haryana: A study of adverse sex ratio, poverty and addiction

Abstract

The paper on, “missing brides in rural Haryana: A study of adverse sex ratio, poverty and addiction ” highlights that the phenomena of across-region marriages is not new. Such marriages have always taken place especially in Punjab, Haryana and other adjoining states. For example, Jatsfrom Haryana would marry Jatsfrom neighbouring UP and Rajasthan or a person from Punjab will look for a bride from the border of Haryana like Kaithal, Narwana. But what is significant is the fact that now a Jat or Chauhanfrom Haryana is marrying a women of intermediate or low caste from Assam, Bengal, or Bihar. Not only this the frequency of such marriages has also increased and these marriages not only speak of spatial distance but also socio-cultural heterogeneity. This study examines the socio-cultural and economic dimensions of such marriages and raises some pertinent questions regarding the acceptance of such marriages in rural Haryana. How a society which otherwise places so much value on caste, gotra and village exogamy is willing to accept marriages in which women are brought from across the cultural, regional and language context, where caste and sometimes even religion is different. How do such women adjust to a culturally different environment which is rigid and patriarchal than their own? The survey was conducted in three villages of Rohtak and Jind districts of Haryana. The study suggests that these unusual marriages are a consequence of combination of factors like low sex-ratio, poverty, and unemployment.