Weeks after informing the Madras High Court that she had left her matrimonial home to live with her mother only to avoid caste tensions, Vanniyar girl N. Divya of Dharmapuri on Monday told a Division Bench that she would continue to stay with her mother until her family accepted her Dalit husband Ilavarasan, with whom she is still in love.
In remarks that seemed to dispel the impression that she had completely sacrificed her inter-caste marriage to Ilavarasan, Ms. Divya told Justice M. Jaichandren and Justice M.M. Sundresh, in a hearing held in the judges’ chamber, that she wanted her mother to accept her love.
“My mother has not accepted my marriage with him. But for the time being, I will be with her until she accepts my love.”
Her marriage to Ilavarasan of Natham Colony near Naikkankottai in Dharmapuri district had led to a mob fury against Dalits there last November. Her father committed suicide and a mob set fire to houses in the colony.
After living with him for eight months, Divya left him a month ago. On June 5, she appeared along with her mother before the judges hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Ilavarasan’s mother.
With moist eyes, she had told the judges then that she wanted to go with her mother for the time being as she was unable to cope with the mental stress caused by caste tension.
When the matter came up on Monday, the judges heard her alone in their chamber first, keeping lawyers of both sides out.
Later, they briefed the advocates on what Divya had told them. The lawyers then briefed the media.
Published - July 02, 2013 02:38 am IST
