Gotras

Cong distances from Khap panchayat

PTI | New Delhi

Congress on Tuesday sought to distance itself from the statement of party leader Naveen Jindal professing support to the khap panchayats, saying it was the personal view of the MP and the party does not support any organisation which violates the rule of law.

"Individual persons or MPs may have their own opinion. That does not mean there is a change in the stance of the Congress. If customary law, based on customs and traditions, violate the rule of law or engage in violence and killing in the name of honour, it cannot be condoned," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

Singhvi said, "there is no dilution in party's stand on the issue. If any such organisation or custom supports violence in the name of caste honour, then Congress is opposed to it".

To a question about the stand of the party on banning same 'gotra' (sub-caste) marriages and amending the Hindu Marriage Act as demanded by the khap panchayats, the spokesman said the party was not going to make any "knee jerk reaction" on the issue.

He said the matter was yet to be discussed in the party.

Jindal today attended a Khap Mahapanchayat in Khaithal, saying that he would vigorously take up their demands with the Congress High Command and Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana.

Jindal, MP from Kurukshetra, yesterday showered praise on the khap panchayats for rendering yeoman service to society by resolving people's problems even before the present day system came into existence.

When Naveen Jindal took up the cause for being allowed to fly the national flag on his car, I thought he was an enlightened person. But his views on the khap panchayats and same Gotra marriage disapponts me. I won't be surprised if the next demand he raises is that people who do not have sons should be allowed to conduct pre-natal tests so that they can get sons for as per Hindu marriages act, only a son can perform the last rites of his father.
I won't be surprised if the congress agrees.
Since the time of Rajiv Gandhi, when he agreed to overturn the Supreme Court verict in the Shah Banu case to the present government allowing for caste census to break up India according to caste, the Congress is taking us back, one step at a time.
According to the Wikipedia "Although people belonging to the same gotra are, in theory, related to each other patrilineally, and belong to the same Brahmin caste, there may be very little else in common between them. In fact, as per the Vedic system, a man and a woman belonging to the same gotra are considered to be a brother and sister, and hence, a marriage between a man and a woman belonging to the same gotra (known as sa-gotra) is forbidden as it will cause anomalies in the progeny that come out of such a marriage. A married woman takes up the gotra of her husband.

The Gotras are named after the Rishis who lived thousands of years ago. Any matching Genes or DNA which may cause anamolies in the offsping has been so diluted in these thousands of years that that rule in the present age has no meaning.
This was again one of the tricks of the Brahmins to control their flock.
These Brahmins (I am also a brahmin) wanted everybody to come to them to decide on every aspect of their lives.
While getting up, you should get up from a particular side of the bed.
You have to see which nostril is free (not clogged), ie. Surya Nari of Chandra Nari.
While eating you should face a particular side.
While drinking water you should sit down.
While bathing, you should not use a shower.
When pouring water on your body you should start with the feet.
You should never bathe naked.
Women in their periods should never go into the kitchen or even touch any food being prepared for others.
When going out of the house, you should put out your right foot first.
Milk is considered inauspicious when going out, curd is considerd auspicious.
A seeper standing with a broom is auspicious.
Water is considerd auspicious.
A cat, esprecially a black, crossing the road is very very inauspicious.
You cannot leave on travel on a Wednesday.
People cannot enter kolkata on a Tuesday.
You should not shave or have a haircut on certain days.
You should not wash your clothes on certain days.
You should not drink milk or eat its products with any salted product

Do you want me to continue?
The list is endless.
I am all for Hinduism but there are certain aspects of Hindusism it would be well if we got rid off.
Gotra part of marriage is just one aspect which should be abolished.
If we are to compete with the west, we have to get rid of these dogmas.
Unfortunately, most of the Gurus preach the same thing as given in the Vedas, which is outdated in most cases.
We should be ready to change our thoughts with all the progress made by humanity.
Each topic should be studied.
Why was this rule made?
Is there a scientific reason which could explain the necessity for the rule?
If yes, let us keep it.
If not, let us reject it.
Even now, people believe that if any baby is conceived through sex during the mensual period of the mother, that baby will be born with physical defects.
Now we all know that a baby cannot be conceived during the menses of the mother.
Now, if our sages had said this to avoid sex during this period because it was messy, then it is acceptible. But if they actually believed the baby part, we should throw out the argument.
This is what I mean.
Let us go into all aspects and keep the items which are supported by science and reject those that are not.
Gotra is one which should be rejected, lock, stock and barrel.