Ambernath: A highly educated couple from Ambernath, belonging to the Kanjarbhaat community, are being excommunicated for opposing the virginity test carried out by the community. This incident has come to light through a video, which the affected grandson has circulated.
Vivek Tamayachikar said, “The boycott continued even at the funeral of my grandmother, when members of the community were asked to stay away.” Social activists are wondering how a state, which claims to be progressive, allows such regressive practices.
The Kanjarbhaat community is a sticker for the virginity test. Vivek had married a girl from the community one and a half years ago. At the time of marriage, he had objected to the virginity test on his wife. The panchayat of Kanjarbhaat excommunicated Vivek and his entire family ever since. On Monday night, when Vivek’s grandmother passed away, not one member from the community was present at the funeral.
“Since I have opposed the regressive traditions of the community, they have boycotted my family and me,” said Vivek. Worse still, around the time of his grandmother’s death, there was a marriage in the neighbourhood. Vivek says a politician came to the haldi ceremony and issued a warning to the entire community to stay away from the funeral.
