Kathmandu, January 14:

A Brahmin girl today married a Biswokarma man at a function in the presence of human rights activists, journalists and representatives of various political parties and social organisations.

Geeta Aryal of Sorek VDC-7 of Syangja tied her nuptial knot with Buddhi Biswokarma of Baghauda VDC-4 of Chitwan at the ceremony organised by Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) of Nepal at the Nepal Bar Association.

Aryal did not inform her family, as they would not accept her choice. Living with her elder brother, bride Aryal decided to marry in the absence of her brother, too.

“I know it is very difficult for my family to accept this but I have the right to choose my partner,” she told this daily adding that it was also necessary to break the wrong traditions prevalent in our society.

Both of them have been working for HBC 94 FM — Biswokarma as a programme presenter and Aryal as producer of a few programmes related to Dalits.

Biswokarma said this is only a step towards social change. “More has to be done to eliminate caste-based discrimination prevalent in Nepal,” he said. He said he first met Geeta at the radio station and later fell in love with her.

Many people present at the formal inter-caste marriage ceremony gave presents and Tika to the couple and wished for their happy married life. They also promised to support the couple when it comes to fight social challenges ahead.

“We, all people present here today, promise to support this couple to fight against whatever social challenges they may face in whatever way we can,” said Subodh Raj Pyakurel, president of the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC).

Speaking at the ceremony, advocate Tika Ram Bhattarai said: “Even the left leaders, who opted for inter-caste marriages, are reluctant to marry their sons and daughters with other caste people.”

Member-secretary of the National Dalit Commission, Hari Gandhari, said the NDC is studying social problems and the ways to address them.

Those present in the ceremony were Birendra Dahal of HBC FM, general secretary of DNF Tej Sunar, Keshav Chaulagain of Inter-religious Peace Committee, former minister Lal Bahadur Biswokarma, Min Biswokarma of NC-D, Suvash Darnal of Jagaran Media Centre, Jeevan Pariyar of the Nepali Dalit Association, Meera Dhungana of Forum for Women Law and Development, and advocate Om Prakash Aryal of the National Human Rights Commission, among others.