The article “A messy corner of India’s modernity” (June 30) was thought-provoking. When I read about the child brides being denied admission to school, I felt it was discrimination. But the article reminded me of an incident that took place about 10 years ago. I was around 14 when I visited the Chidambaram temple with my parents. After ‘darshan,’ we went to a priest’s home for lunch. He had three daughters, aged 17, 13 and seven. I was shocked to learn that all three were married!
I feel there are two perspectives to the Melur school issue. One, denial of the Right to Education to eligible children. Two, the impact of the presence of married girls on co-students. Obviously, the teacher was influenced by the second.
When I encountered the child-brides at the age of 14, I got scared! I could not believe that girls younger to me were married! It shattered my perspective about society. I spent a few days thinking what if my parents got me married. What would happen to my school, friends or my annual day skit?
There is a view that, like religion, marriage is a private affair. So be it. But when we teach in classrooms that child marriage is an evil, can we have child-brides sitting in them? How would we reconcile the contradiction?
Matangi Mawley,
Chennai
