Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi: A unique attempt is being made to promote harmony in the communally volatile coastal districts by launching a' Forum for Inter-Faith Relationships' called “Jati Mukta Sambandha Vedike” in Kannada, which was formally inaugurated here at Udupi Ravindra Kala Mantapa.

Ravi Varma Kumar senior advocate of High court inaugurated the forum symbolically and said that you can be caste-free and there is defense from law and constitution. So, police need to protect it.  One can be caste-free without fear from anyone. Any boy and girl hailing from any caste/community can get married if they mutually consent to it, police cannot interfere in such matters. This is said in the order of Supreme Court. High Court has ordered that such people getting married need to be supported. 

Anyone meddling in such matters should be checked and those supporting such issues need to be supported, the police have been instructed so by the court itself. Hence, inter-caste, inter-language marriages have total freedom under the provision of the law.  But still there are certain people amidst us who violate those laws. Under such circumstances, there is need for having caste-free associations, he said

We have shining examples of those stalwarts like Kota Shivarama Karantha, Poornachandra Thejaswi, Prof Ramdaas; Dalith leader Prof B Krishnappa,; Raitha Sangha leader Prof MD Nanjundaswamy, those who stood against the tide of times. You have Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Vishwamitra, Valmiki, who propagated inter-caste marriages.  Still you have resistance for caste-free marriages.  The reason for it is that the progressive people have kept quiet, he said.

Convener of the forum Hayavadana Moodusagri, in his introductory message said that many people had inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. The forum is aimed at protecting them from the caste and religious systems. The forum would support youngsters who come forward to have inter-caste or inter-religious marriages, both legally and morally. “We want to establish a society without the barriers of caste or religion. This will lead to harmony in its truest sense.

The forum wanted to create a strong support system for those who had inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. Such people usually do not get support from members of their own castes and religions. Hence, it is essential to support them financially and morally, especially when they face crisis in their lives. The forum had the larger and important objective of promoting cordial relations and friendship between people of various castes and religions "  said.Moodusagri.

Senior writer Prof. HL Keshavamurthi presided over the function. Office bearers of the association; Dr. U Vanajakshi, Girija Balakrishna, Shashidhar Hemmadi, were present on the dais.

Group discussions over caste-free relations, presentation of events, sharing experiences and such exercises were conducted.  In the evening during the valedictory function KL Ashok; and  G. Rajashekar also took part. Dr Udaya Barkur, member of Committee welcomed the guests. Member Suma S compered the programme, Nagaraj GS proposed a Vote of thanks.