When a Meo marries a girl from outside Mewat, she is called ‘Paro’. It’s an epithet she has to endure all her life — especially when someone wants to taunt or harass her. “People use the word as a gaali (curse). Whenever there’s a quarrel at home, my mother-in-law uses it as a taunt to imply that I come from a bad, immoral family,” says Kuraisha Khatun, who’s been married for 14 years and has three daughters. Nevertheless, Kuraisha is instrumental in fixing marriages of three or four local men — including Rahim Khan - to girls from her native village in Chatra district, Jharkhand.
- She is looked upon with distrust, and as one belonging to an immoral family
- Girls from eastern India have a major problem adjusting to the language and culture of Mewat. A common domestic problem recounted by all Paros: they are used to making chapattis with a roller (belan) and cooking them on tawa. But the Meos want them made with hands and cooked directly on fire
- These ‘outsiders’ are never on an equal footing with the other women.
- If the husband dies, she’s usually thrown out of the house — with or without her children
- Land rights are a grey area. A Paro is rarely given ownership rights to the land of her husband’s family. Her children too are discriminated against when it comes to family assets.
What would you call an Italian married to an Indian? A PAZZO!
Imagine an Italian married to an Indian-
She will still be looked upon with distrust. She will still have problems adjusting the language and culture. But I am sure they can woo her in-laws with pizzas! Who gives a damn to chapattis!
Disclaimer- No disrespect intended at Sonia Gandhi.
News- HT
Photo- TOI
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