Mangalore: Sandesh is a Pambada, an untouchable caste that is called upon to act as Bhoota (spirits) at night during Kola (a ritual) performances.

Members of this caste dress up as demons and perform various Tulunad cultural worships of past ancestors for any community. But once the roles are over and costumes are dropped, the Bhoota player turns an untouchable in society here.

Deepti is from Kottari caste, working in a business Mall and studying for master’s degree in commerce (M.com). Whenever an inter-caste marriage proposal comes up for lovers, maximum opposition is shown towards a Dalit, boy or girl.

They were known as Harijans in Gandhiji’s times, and Basaveshwara tried an intercaste marriage between a couple of a high and low cast e, 800 years ago.

Here, Deepti’s family was opposed to her marriage to a Pambada boy. So, Deepti had to run away from her ‘born’ home to stay as a paying guest elsewhere. Deepti’s family had arranged a match for her from among Kottaris, who was related to the chief of a rightist Hindutva moral force group! A close watch was kept by this leader and his goondas, on where she kept her secret documents in a locker, before marriage.

Deepti came for help, along with Sandesh’s mother, to the police. A number of progressive minded organizations also came round along with journalists, to help the would-be bride of Sandesh.

There was a ride to Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh’s office for them, her and goons set up after her. CPC Singh offered all assistance for a grown up girl to choose her husband, a man of her preference.

Deepti’s brothers at the CPC office told press writers that they had no objection to her marrying a Pambada. A progressive minded priest, Jayaram Bhat came along to perform the marriage of Sandesh with Deepti.

Several organizations like DYFI, Dakshina Kannada Rationalists, AIDWA, Samudaya, Insturance Employees Union and others stood by.

When registration of marriage is done, a ritual is necessary to complete it. In Karnataka, self respect marriages are not performed, but Police do intervene and bless couples with an Arya Samaj marriage or by a ritual union arranged by a progressive Hindu priest like Jayaram Bhat. So Sandesh and Deepti have been united in wedlock.