Innocent Black climbed the mound again
A commotion ensued, and then silence fell. Everyone rushed to see what had happened. Women peeked from the balconies of their homes. "Hey, what's going on?" one gestured to another. Someone shouted, "Nadia's wedding! Nadia's in-laws sent her off in two pieces of cloth."
Nadia was also among the unfortunate ones,
belonging to a family where the tradition of Vani or Swara still persisted. Nadia's family had roots in a village in Sindh. Education for girls in rural areas often started a bit late. Nadia was still in the fifth grade. Despite repeated requests, her mother, against the opposition of her brothers, had arranged for her to have private tuition first and then enrolled her in school.
One day, Nadia's brother abducted a girl from the village. Within a few hours, the police arrived. The girl's family demanded a settlement, insisting that they would also give a girl in return. A compromise was reached, but Nadia was the reason. In this settlement, Nadia's fragile body became the victim. In no time, everything returned to the way it was before, but Nadia, now Nadia Bhabhi, was leaving.
Nadia, with tearful eyes like Vani, bid farewell not only to her home but also shed tears for the face of society bearing the mark of such customs. On August 24 of the next year, a similar incident occurred in Ghotki, Sindh, where a girl was vani'd in the name of a love marriage.
Vani or Swara is a custom with two names. In Punjab, it is called Vani, while in Pashto, it is known as Swara. Similar customs exist in Sindh and Balochistan, where girls are given as compensation or revenge between two families, sometimes even young girls are subjected to it.
In ancient times, to end enmities between tribes and families, formal settlements involving girls and families were made to end disputes. Such customs are also present among Hindus, where an innocent girl is given as Vani to end hostilities. The gruesome tradition of a widow being forced to commit Sati was also part of India's tradition.
Jalal-ud-din Akbar tried to abolish the customs of Vani among Muslims and Sati among Hindus during his rule. However, looking at today's events, it can be said that these customs have not been completely eradicated in Pakistan and India.
One major reason for the persistence of these customs is ignorance or lack of education. After shortcomings in the implementation of the justice system and women's rights laws, societal ignorance remains a significant factor. The imbalanced decisions of tribal systems have also had severe consequences. The respect and dignity that a woman should receive have been compromised in this system.
Just imagine what a girl given away for the sake of ending your enmity would do with that innocent Kali. It's not just the loss of a little life; it's the destruction of a family. When you are struggling beyond the borders of your land, where your situation worsens as you cross the boundaries of your enemy, sending your innocent daughter cannot even be considered, let alone done.
So what can be done?
A conscious effort is needed to form a society in which every sane person has to work. Illuminate the surroundings with the light of knowledge, and eliminate ignorance like this. For the eradication of such ignorance, personal involvement is required.
Effective implementation of the law is also crucial. If any such matter reaches the ears of the law, it should not be ignored as an incident but should be cited as an example to understand the system.
The greatest responsibility lies with our society, which becomes a part of this system. Meaning, if the onlookers stand firm, no one can impose their false desires and forced customs on an innocent girl like this.
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