Groom kidnapping

Groom kidnapping, colloquially known as Pakaruah shaadi or Jabaria shaadi, is a phenomenon common 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 forcefully married, to avoid heavy dowry costs. Considering the traditional regard for the marriage sacrament, most such marriages are not annulled. Additionally, the groom may suffer criminal charges under 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 organized gangs came forward to carry out the abductions.^[1]^[2] In 2009,1224 kidnappings for marriage were reported in Bihar, carried out on behalf of the families of the brides.^[3]

Overview 1
In popular culture 2
References 3
External links 4

Overview

The practice, which is a fallout of the ^[6]^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[3]

In popular culture

Inspired by the real-life experience of a close friend, director Sushil Rajpal has made a film on the issue. Antardwand, won the 2007 National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues, and was released in 2010.^[9]^[10] Groom kidnapping was also the subject of the TV series, Sab Ki Jodi Wohi Banata Bhagyavidhataa (2009) on Colours TV.^[5]^[11]

References

^ Das, Arvind N. (1992). The Republic of Bihar. Penguin Books. p. 70.
^ Abraham, M. Francis (1998). The agony of India: reflections of an angry Indian. EastWest Books. p. 215.
^ ^a ^b "Bachelor snatchers after suitable boys". The Australian. January 13, 2010.
^ Das, Arvind N. (1992). The state of Bihar: an economic history without footnotes. VU University Press. p. 34.
^ ^a ^b "Want to get married? Kidnap a groom!". The Times of India. Apr 27, 2009.
^ "Why bachelors of Bihar are terrified". Sydney Morning Herald. October 4, 2003.
^ "Men Kidnapped and Forced Into Marriage".
^ India Today, Volume 18, Issues 13-17, 1993.Page 13.
^ "Bagging the groom!". The Hindu. Aug 31, 2010.
^ "Groom abduction, now on screen". The Telegraph. August 27, 2010.
^ "Vishal’s abducted!". The Times of India. May 11, 2009.

External links

‘1,300 cases of groom kidnapping were registered last year’ at Hindustan Times

Social issues in India

Economy	Brain drain Communications Famine Farmers' suicides Labour Land reforms Debt bondage National Pension Scheme Poverty BPL Public Distribution System Remittances Reverse brain drain Slums Standard of living Street vendors Transport Urbanisation Unemployment Widening income gap

Education	Literacy Ragging Right to Education Act School corporal punishment

Environmental issues	Conservation Global warming Manual scavenging Natural disasters Pollution Water supply and sanitation

Family	Cohabitation Divorce Domestic violence Dowry system Family planning Hindu joint family Infertility Nuclear family Polyandry Polygamy

Children	Abortion Child labour Child marriage Child prostitution Child trafficking Female foeticide Female infanticide Street children

Women	Acid throwing Bride burning Devadasi Dowry death Eve teasing Women's health Feminism Menstrual taboo Prostitution Rape Sati Sexism Widows

Caste system	Caste politics Caste-related violence Dalit Reservation

Communalism	Proposed states and territories Ethnic relations Religious conflicts Religious violence Secularism Separatist movements

Crime	Corruption Groom kidnapping Human trafficking Illegal housing Illegal immigration Illegal mining Organised crime Terrorism Vigilantism

Health	Epidemics HIV/AIDS Leprosy Malnutrition Obesity Suicide

Media	Censorship Internet Films about social issues Freedom of expression Social impact of Indian soap opera

Other	Feudalism Gambling Hijra Homosexuality Human rights Prohibition Religious and spiritual use of cannabis Superstitions

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Groom kidnapping