Bhubaneswar: Even after 78 years of independence, social ostracization remains prevalent in many tribal communities across Odisha. The latest case involves former Congress MP and BJD leader Pradeep Majhi, who, along with his family, faces exclusion for defying traditional norms through inter-caste marriages.
About The Case
Majhi married Sushree Sangita Sahu, a non-tribal woman from Kendrapada, in a private ceremony in Goa on March 12, 2024. Earlier, he had arranged his sister Sanju Majhi’s marriage to a Brahmin man. These decisions provoked strong backlash from his tribal community, which views inter-caste unions as a breach of tradition.
On March 15, the central committee of the ‘Bhatara Samaj’ held a meeting in Dhamnaguda, imposing a 12-year social boycott on Majhi and his family. The decree bars them from participating in community events, reinforcing entrenched customs that resist inter-caste marriages.
Neither Majhi nor his family has responded publicly to the boycott. A seasoned politician, Majhi was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 from Nabarangpur on a Congress ticket. He previously led the Odisha Youth Congress and was closely associated with Rahul Gandhi. In 2021, he joined the BJD and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but lost to BJP’s Balabhadra Majhi.
This incident highlights the persistent clash between tradition and modernity in tribal societies, where age-old customs often override legal frameworks promoting equality and personal choice. Majhi’s case reflects the broader struggles faced by individuals challenging these deeply rooted norms.
