If you open any newspaper any news website today you are more likely than not going to find problems. A big section of today’s news is devoted to making you aware of what is wrong with you, your family, society, state and country and in that order, with the world. Positive news has to fight to earn its place amongst the negatively charged environment because sadly that is what sells according to the mainstream media. An under-reported story has come to light from the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka, amongst all the talks of love jihad, honour killings this story deserves a place in the media. Because it is the story of a Muslim-Hindu couple which has managed to tie the knots yesterday, despite the odds stacked against them. The story is special because it involves a Hindu Brahmin groom and a Muslim bride who defied the society to make this unusual bond. The groom received full support from his family for the marriage with his love who hailed from another religion.
There have been countless instances in the past where a Muslim family has taken objection to their girls marrying or being in a relationship with a Hindu or Christian guy. The most recent one was from Delhi in which a boy named Ankit lost his life owing to an attack by the girl’s family members. Fortunately, nothing of this sort happened for Vikram, the groom who comes from a Brahmin family and hails from the Bidar district of Karnataka. The girl Shabana Rahmat Hussain, had been living at the State Home for Women for almost four years. Vikram runs a micro-irrigation equipment business in Bidar and they had reportedly been involved for a considerable period of time before they decided to finally tie the knot. They got married in a simple ceremony which took place at the state home for women which was attended by few close friends and relatives.
Vikram’s family deserves special applause as they had chosen to stick by Vikram’s choice and not raise problems for him after they came to know that the girl came from a different religion. Reportedly, they had readily agreed with his choice and supported him wholeheartedly and had taken active part in organising the marriage which was completed according to Hindu rituals.
We wish Vikram and Shabana all the best for their lives, we do understand that there is nothing extraordinary in this news. There is no dramatic ending or a start to this story and that is exactly how it should be. An inter-religious marriage if done in good faith and out of love should not make it to the headlines. Doing it for conversion or money is what should be reported and even proscribed. Vikram and Shabana have set an example for our society to follow in the coming days, a model path towards progress and inclusivity. The story of their love and subsequent marriage is all the more heartening because the Brahmin family of the groom raised no objection and wholeheartedly supported this inter-religion union.