Madhya Pradesh: In a shocking act of caste rigidity, a family in Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh performed the Pind Daan—a ritual usually reserved for the dead—for their daughter who married outside their caste. The girl, Pallavi Rajput, from Udaigarh village, had married her long-time partner, Siddharth Baser of the Kalal community, defying her family’s wishes and triggering a deeply symbolic and controversial response.
Court marriage sparks family fury
On July 3, Pallavi left home saying she was heading to college for an exam. When she failed to return, her family filed a missing person’s report. Days later, police traced her to a location where she had recorded a video statement. In it, Pallavi revealed that she had married Siddharth of her own free will and would not return to Udaigarh due to safety concerns. The couple reportedly had a court marriage, though the date of the marriage remains unclear.
‘Shok Patrika’ and rituals for the living
In an extreme response to her marriage outside their caste, Pallavi’s family disowned her completely, printing a ‘Shok Patrika’ (death notice) and erecting a funeral tent outside their home. On Friday, priests were called to perform Pind Daan, the last rites typically performed after someone’s death in Hindu customs.
A garlanded photograph of Pallavi was displayed, with July 3 marked as her ‘death date’—symbolising the day she left the family. Her younger brother Aditya even had his head shaved, mimicking the mourning rituals followed after a family member’s death.
The family has since declared that all ties with Pallavi are severed and stated they will cut off anyone who chooses to maintain contact with her.
Social media reacts, caste rigidity questioned
The incident has ignited a debate on social media platforms, with many users condemning the family’s actions as regressive and extreme, especially in a country where inter-caste marriages are legally protected and often encouraged by reformers and constitutional thinkers like Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
Critics have called for counselling and awareness programmes in conservative rural belts, where such practices continue to thrive. Others have raised questions about the emotional impact such symbolic ‘deaths’ can have on young women choosing autonomy in matters of love and marriage.