http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=232925
Muslims sponsor Dalit mass marriage Express News Service Ahmedabad, April 22: Mass marriages in a backward community make no news but if the same is sponsored by minority community members, then it does make news: because it is not only a sign of social evolvement but a harbinger of political alliance between them. One such mass marriage was solemnised on Sunday under the aegis of the Akhil Gujarat Manav Kalyan Vikas Parishad. After the chasm that was created between them after the 2002 Godhra riots, Dalits and Muslims are coming closer once again and such mass marriages are providing a platform to cement this alliance further. The one on Sunday saw 21 marriages. The venue was sponsored by Muslim community leaders of Shah-e-Alam and Danilimda. They also sponsored the lunch besides gifting some of the 37 household items given to the brides. The goodwill gesture comes ahead of the Assembly elections. Though Maganbhai Makwana, president of the Parishad, denies any political objective, he took care to invite political leaders to grace the occasion. "Our objective is to help poor Dalit families marry off their sons or daughters who are otherwise unable to afford it due to rising prices," Makwana declares. But, he agrees that these marriages, solemnised with the help of the minority community went a long way in strengthening social ties. "Dalits and Muslims were never allowed to come together by political parties due to their own interests, but our efforts are sure to frustrate their designs," said Makwana confidently who has arranged three such mass marriages in the last four years, totalling 88. Former Deputy Chief Minister Narhari Amin looks at such marriage functions as a stepping stone to bridging communal divide besides creating an atmosphere of general harmony in day-to-day social life. To him, Gujarat, which has a history of communal strife, this is a pioneering effort worth emulating in other parts of the country as well. "So far, the two communities kept to themselves. This is the first time that Dalits and Muslims have decided to come together for community-specific social gathering such as marriage. We have contributed by donating funds and sponsoring dowry items for the newlyweds," said Sharif Khan Pathan, a major contributor of the event. He believes such initiatives will help in building communal harmony. "We are going to go a step further in the near future when 50 mass marriages — 25 each from both communities — will be organised," Pathan said. -- Subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a BLANK email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
