The Tale of Gujjar Women

Last year, I moved into a house on MG Road. My landlord here is a Gujjar. He is married with four kids – two sons and two daughters. The daughters aged 23 and 21 years are married with kids. The two sons are aged 16 and 13.

Sometime back, his wife came over to have a general tee-a-tee with me over a cup of tea. For some time, I had been wondering about her age as she looked quite young to me, and I would always hesitate in calling her Aunty. I would wonder to myself as to how could a woman with four grown up children , and grandchildren look so youthful. I asked her the question that day.

Her answer was simple, “ My husband was married to my elder sister. She died in childbirth, while giving birth to her third child, a son. I was 15 years old at that time. I was asked to marry my brother-in-law. What choice did I have? Anyways, he is good to me. The children love me, and I love them too. Please continue to call me Aunty, as it would hurt my husband if you call him Uncle and me by my name.” ( My landlady is younger than I am)

Three days back, I saw my landlord sitting on a chair in his garden looking mournful. Upon inquiring, he replied, “ Bad things have happened to us Beta. My brother-in-law’s daughter has become a widow. Her husband died in a car accident outside his house. She has two daughters and a three month old son. What will happen to her. She is just 24 years old. Widows do not remarry in our caste. She will have to lead an austere life from now on. No new clothes or jewelry for her anymore. She cannot laugh openly nor be seen entertaining herself else society will cast shadows on her character. Her life is gone.” And he started sobbing.