Families blur out of their love picture
NEW DELHI: Aditya (22) is lean, tall and sports a stubble. He stays at Paharganj with Simran (18), his wife of 24 days. Two years ago, Simran could've dismissed Aditya's missed call as a random one. But she called back his number and that's how their love story started. "There was something about her voice. I knew she was the one," says Aditya.
It so transpired that Aditya was a native of the same Punjab village as Simran; so they soon met up and their courtship began. But in India, vetting a suitor for marriage is no less complex than rocket science with caste, religion and horoscope, not love, deciding his fate. So it came as no surprise when Simran's family threatened Aditya to stay away.
Simran's parents fixed her marriage to a 'suitable' boy by name of Ravinder on February 8, thus forcing her hand. She eloped with Aditya and both got married on January 18. The couple now lives in Love Commando's secret shelter. "My family was happy but not hers," says Aditya, watching for his wife's response. But before he can rephrase, Simran speaks up. "My father has accepted our bond but a male cousin, who is a cop, is against our love," she says.
Another couple at this shelter is Sushmita and Jai. Theirs is an inter-faith marriage though Sushmita, who was born a Muslim, has changed her religion and her name. They got married on January 27. Working at the same office, the duo fell in love five years ago but since day one knew what lay in store. "My family will never accept us, but I couldn't desert him," says Sushmita. Wearing a chooda and mangalsutra, she looks every inch the new bride. There's just one thing amiss: She can't hide her sadness when somebody talks about her family. "I'm in touch with my cousin but she has asked me not to return home as the family is still angry," she says.
The couples at Love Commando aren't allowed to talk to their families and aren't allowed to go out either. The commandos accompany them whenever they step out. But for Valentine's Day, they have got special permission to go out for dinner. "After all, it was for love that we left our families behind, and we will dine out to celebrate it," Jai, who has his own call centre, says.
One of the Commando co-founders, Sanjay Sachdeva, takes care of these couples. He's known as Papa among them. "We don't allow them to talk to their families as their calls can be tracked. This is something we've learnt from our past experience," he says. Once a couple arrives, they are married in court the next day. Over a cigarette, Sanjay talks about the aim of his group and how difficult it is sometimes to sustain due to lack of funds. "As per media reports, there is a bounty of Rs 25 lakh from khap panchayats. VHP and RSS have burnt our effigies in protest but we will not give up," he adds.
Started in 2001, Love Commando has united 23,000 couples till date. "The only way to make society casteism and religious bias-free is through such marriages," Sanjay says.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Families-blur-out-of-their-love-picture/articleshow/30361593.cms
Support the Love Commandos!
It so transpired that Aditya was a native of the same Punjab village as Simran; so they soon met up and their courtship began. But in India, vetting a suitor for marriage is no less complex than rocket science with caste, religion and horoscope, not love, deciding his fate. So it came as no surprise when Simran's family threatened Aditya to stay away.
Simran's parents fixed her marriage to a 'suitable' boy by name of Ravinder on February 8, thus forcing her hand. She eloped with Aditya and both got married on January 18. The couple now lives in Love Commando's secret shelter. "My family was happy but not hers," says Aditya, watching for his wife's response. But before he can rephrase, Simran speaks up. "My father has accepted our bond but a male cousin, who is a cop, is against our love," she says.
Another couple at this shelter is Sushmita and Jai. Theirs is an inter-faith marriage though Sushmita, who was born a Muslim, has changed her religion and her name. They got married on January 27. Working at the same office, the duo fell in love five years ago but since day one knew what lay in store. "My family will never accept us, but I couldn't desert him," says Sushmita. Wearing a chooda and mangalsutra, she looks every inch the new bride. There's just one thing amiss: She can't hide her sadness when somebody talks about her family. "I'm in touch with my cousin but she has asked me not to return home as the family is still angry," she says.
The couples at Love Commando aren't allowed to talk to their families and aren't allowed to go out either. The commandos accompany them whenever they step out. But for Valentine's Day, they have got special permission to go out for dinner. "After all, it was for love that we left our families behind, and we will dine out to celebrate it," Jai, who has his own call centre, says.
One of the Commando co-founders, Sanjay Sachdeva, takes care of these couples. He's known as Papa among them. "We don't allow them to talk to their families as their calls can be tracked. This is something we've learnt from our past experience," he says. Once a couple arrives, they are married in court the next day. Over a cigarette, Sanjay talks about the aim of his group and how difficult it is sometimes to sustain due to lack of funds. "As per media reports, there is a bounty of Rs 25 lakh from khap panchayats. VHP and RSS have burnt our effigies in protest but we will not give up," he adds.
Started in 2001, Love Commando has united 23,000 couples till date. "The only way to make society casteism and religious bias-free is through such marriages," Sanjay says.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Families-blur-out-of-their-love-picture/articleshow/30361593.cms
Support the Love Commandos!
