sunillathwal
New member
...and you know all this from "NEWSpapers". right?? In your assessment khap is un-democratic (and 'of and by' influential ppl), which you have mentioned more than once in your post.1. There is a basic difference between a Panchayat and a Khap. While
Khap represents only a particular section (Gotra) of any particular caste, Panchayats are more representative consisting of people from more than one caste and gotras of that particular village.
2. Being a representative of different castes and gotras, Panchayats are constrained to be more democratic than the Khaps which do not follow any democratic system for electing their Pradhan who issues the dictates according to the whims and fancies of only the influential people in the Gotra.
So, how exactly the Pradhan of any Khap is 'elected' (if i can use this word)?
I mean, i go and say: Okay you puny humans, today onward i am the xyz Khap-Pradhan.. be submissive and full(fill) my whims.. eg, off with their heads!! Will ppl listen to me??
What baffles me more is, if Pardhan is so undemocratic elected (nay self-appointed), how come he command respect from other fellows ? what makes the masses follow his whim/fancies??
The word 'Influential' reminds me something about the Sarpanchs of your so called democratic panchayats; guess what they are mostly "influential". I am sure you know what happens in panchayat elections: liquor, money and other favors win the elections. [Yeah, sometime some good guys (retired lecturers, army personal) who have good reputation in village, who are a bit respected are also elected as sarpanch.]
Food for thought: Be it Khap or Panchyat, single person i. e, Sarpanch or Pradhan does NOT take decision. Mostly a group of influential people (NOT limited to panchayat members) selected from the audience (variety of criterion for selecting this group, ex-sarpanch, ex-member of panchayat, someone whom people thinks sensible and level headed) are given the job of settling the issue.
Many times, sarpanch is from reserve category or a lady (and hence dummy) same "influential people " take all the decisions.
There goes Democracy of your Panchayts!!!
3. Whilst Panchayats are democratically elected bodies having legal sanctity, Khaps do not enjoy the same status. Again, Panchayats have jurisdiction primarily in matters like civic management, developmental activities and some other welfare measures concerning the village.
Really?? Unfortunately, thats not all that panchayats do!! Anyone who is from village will tell you how many 'criminal cases' are settled by panchayats every year.
कोए न कोए सर फुड़ा रह सै आये हफ्ते.. कई की बहु दरखास (police reoprt) दिया पावेंगी .. किस के पानी पे लट्ठ बाजेगे एर कई की गाल (नाली ) के पाणी पे रोला: FIR ना लिखे पुलिस.. गाम आला ने बुला लेगी एर उड़े राजी-नामा करवा के छोड़ देगी. and everybody will be happy after sometime. Thats how villagers do (and don't do)!! Going by your definition, Panchayat should refrain from all this and let courts handle all this. Is it possible??
Guess what this is what precisely khaps also do (albeit on larger social/criminal issues)!! Ever wondered why khap-panchayat do NOT interfere in lives of people settled in city (even if one is married next door)??
Another grain for thoughts: Go to any khap (Or Sarv Khap) and have a look at the profiles of those INFLUENTIAL guys.. you will be (un)pleasantly surprise to see that they are the best of the lot... and not to mention majority of them sarpanchs and ex-sarpanch of respective panchayats!! Any thoughts here??