Kerala: Inter-caste couples' village takes guard

KOZHIKODE: Karayad, a sleepy village in Arikkulam grama panchayat,  is the paradise of inter-caste couples. Over  50 of them  here  belong to different religions and castes. The strong communist background and a rustic culture  with village values have preserved their love saga.  However, the couples are planning to  float a body foreseeing the challenges ahead in a communally-charged scenario. “The entire village stood behind the couples who broke the religious divide. There is no change in the situation  but we are getting prepared at a time when communal forces are having an upper hand,” says  P.K. Ansari, one of the organisers.

Karayad is close to Perambra, where an inter-faith couple, Gautham and Anshida had to seek the chief minister’s help to live after  religious fanatics started roaming around their house following  their marriage in 2014. The first meet of the couples of Arikkulam was held on October 31 and the next is scheduled to be held in December. Recently, a Muslim youth married a Christian girl from Thiruvalla through special marriage Act and it was conducted  with the  support of the CPM and a court order.

“We also want to mark the centenary year of Sree Narayana Guru’s declaration,   ‘We have no caste,’  by floating the body.  It should be a model at the time of communal polarisation,” said   A.M. Sugathan,  the main organiser and local CPM leader. Lilly Govind, a Christian who married a Hindu youth, Govindan, 26 years ago, felt that the progressive religious values of that period helped them stay afloat. O.K. Vijaya-lakshmi, retired teacher and wife of  P.K. Ansari, says that a vibrant secular atmosphere was indispensable for inter-faith couples to move forward.