Groom kidnapping

2021-04-25T11:09:59Z

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{{Violence against men}}
'''Groom kidnapping''', colloquially known as '''Pakaruah shaadi''' or '''Jabaria shaadi''', is a phenomenon in the western parts of [[Bihar]], and eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]] states in India, wherein eligible bachelors are abducted by the [[bride]]'s family and later [[Forced marriage|forcibly married]], to get men with better education and/or richer men. Considering the traditional regard for the [[Indian wedding|marriage sacrament]], most such marriages are not annulled. Additionally, the groom may suffer fake criminal charges under [[Dowry law in India|Indian dowry law]], and end up fighting lengthy legal battles.

The practice started becoming noticeable towards the late 20th century, as dowry costs became prohibitive and organised gangs came forward to carry out the abductions.<ref>{{cite book|last= Das|first=Arvind N.|title=The Republic of Bihar|year=1992|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=0-14-012351-2|page=70}}</ref><ref name=ab>{{cite book|last=Abraham|first=M. Francis |title=The agony of India: reflections of an angry Indian|year=1998|publisher=EastWest Books|isbn=81-86852-15-8|page=215}}</ref> In 2009, 1224 kidnappings for marriage were reported in Bihar, carried out on behalf of the families of the brides.<ref name="aus"/>

==Overview==
The practice, which is a fallout of the [[dowry]] custom, first came to light in the 1980s. It has since gained social sanction among the upper castes like the [[Bhumihar]]s,<ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=Arvind N. |title=The state of Bihar: an economic history without footnotes|year=1992|publisher=VU University Press|isbn=90-5383-135-5|page=34}}</ref> particularly in states like [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]], where dowry demands are high. Demanding a dowry has been illegal in India for over 50 years, since the passage of the [[Dowry law in India#The 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act|Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961]].<ref name="tto"/>

In the practice potential bridegrooms, usually from well-off families, are targeted. Young men who have either cleared their [[Indian Administrative Services|IAS]] exams, have a medical or engineering degree or have secured a government job, are targeted by families who can’t afford huge dowries. These "grooms" are abducted, held captive and often beaten into submission before being [[Forced marriage|forcibly married]], often at gun-point with a rope tied around their waist so they can't run away. Subsequently, if the groom tries to extricate himself from the marriage, he faces lengthy legal battles and even criminal charges under Indian Dowry law, which is geared towards protecting the rights of women in the marriage, as in most cases, the bride's family is financially strong and politically connected 17238 cases registered in 2017

Over the years, organised criminals have become part of the practice, as they carry out abductions for a fee and guarantee post-marriage "compliance" by the groom for an extra fee. Thus, many such marriages go unreported and often continue under fear of violence from local criminals.<ref name="si">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/03/1064988410945.html|title=Why bachelors of Bihar are terrified|date=October 4, 2003|work=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref name="alt">{{cite web|url=http://www.alternet.org/sex/142785/men_kidnapped_and_forced_into_marriage/|title=Men Kidnapped and Forced Into Marriage|date=September 21, 2009|publisher=[[AlterNet]]}}</ref>

As early as 1993, the magazine ''[[India Today]]'' reported such kidnappings by "social groups", one of which had formed in 1982 in Bihar, to kidnap grooms who demanded heavy dowries and forcibly marry them.<ref>''[[India Today]]'', Volume 18, Issues 13-17, 1993.''Page 13''.</ref> In some cases, if the groom asks for too large a dowry or backs out of a marriage owing to dowry issues, the girl's family resorts to such measures, having the groom abducted via criminal gangs.<ref name="aus">{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/bachelor-snatchers-after-suitable-boys/story-e6frg6so-1225818565087|title=Bachelor snatchers after suitable boys|date=January 13, 2010|work=The Australian}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Inspired by the real-life experience of a close friend, director Sushil Rajpal has made a film on the issue. Titled ''[[Antardwand]]'', it won the 2007 [[National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues|National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues]], and was released in 2010.<ref name="hi">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/08/31/stories/2010083150070100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108001011/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/08/31/stories/2010083150070100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Bagging the groom!|date=Aug 31, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ww.telegraphindia.com/1100827/jsp/bihar/story_12859560.jsp|title=Groom abduction, now on screen|date=August 27, 2010|work=The Telegraph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118055756/http://ww.telegraphindia.com/1100827/jsp/bihar/story_12859560.jsp|archive-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> Groom kidnapping was also the subject of the TV series, ''Sab Ki Jodi Wohi Banata Bhagyavidhataa'' (2009) on ''[[Colors (TV channel)|Colours TV]]''.<ref name="tto">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-27/tv/28024772_1_groom-dowry-marriage|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917191824/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-27/tv/28024772_1_groom-dowry-marriage|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 17, 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Want to get married? Kidnap a groom!|date=Apr 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/tv/28180558_1_reality-show-small-screen-character|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103062445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/tv/28180558_1_reality-show-small-screen-character|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Vishal's abducted!|date=May 11, 2009}}</ref>

Dramas ''Ghar ek Sapna'' and ''Do Qadam Door'' are based on groom kidnapping and marriage.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} The practise is also captured in the Indian [[romantic comedy]] film, ''[[Jabariya Jodi]]''.

==See also==
* [[Bride kidnapping]]
* [[New York divorce coercion gang]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.hindustantimes.com/1-300-cases-of-groom-kidnapping-were-registered-last-year/Article1-590785.aspx ‘1,300 cases of groom kidnapping were registered last year’] at ''[[Hindustan Times]]''

{{Social issues in India}}

[[Category:Kidnapping]]
[[Category:Marriage in India]]
[[Category:Kidnapping in India]]
[[Category:Forced marriage]]
[[Category:Violence against men in Asia]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses]]

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Groom kidnapping