Social traditions Madam, were translated to customary laws after many considerations including scientific thoughts. In tribal areas, customary laws are still in force and respected even by govt. The need is to modernize our thinking keeping social, scientific, emotional bases in view.
In above referred discussion, daughter, mother, son, father, brother, sister should have participated to make real essay converging in to a marriage, setting an example for the society.
Invite some bio-sciences, psychological, medico experts for comments on inbreeding, if possible.

Banning same Gotra marriage was an old tradition to prevent marriage of similar genes. The genes become weaker in this way. The purpose was scientific and relevant. Over the years the Gotra have become so widespread that though original purpose is being served by this ban, but implementing it strictly, is no more scientific. It is more of, following the letter in words rather then in true spirit. Every body including Naveen Jindal is not a scientist and may be unaware of the original purpose. Naveen Jindal is one of most sensible MPs of our lok Sabha. Whatever he was speaking was a strict Agarwal's widely followed tradition. The tradition still deserves respect and should be followed, but strictly should not be a legal binding. Title of the news is little harsh.

A great article I must say.
At a time when the middle-class Indian wants to break free from the cobwebs of tradition and keep his head high for he has not abandoned his education and reason, people like Naveen Jindal appear. These people not only take the confidence away from the common man but they are a mockery to the education they have received . They do not have a right to be called a leader, if all they can do is to push followers hundred years back into the past and darkness. Shame on you Mr. Naveen Jindal.

We keep pushing ourselves into denial everytime such issues crop up. Jindal did the right thing by talking tot the TOI reporter. He got a real feedback. As real as it can get.

Why we can't we have some medical facts, if there are any to counter or support this issue of Same Gotra Marriage.

Even Dr. HarGovind Khurana- Indian- American Scientist was awarded Nobel Prize for the research done,' THE GENES ARE TRANSMITTED TILL THE SEVENTH GENERATION, SO A PARTICULAR DESEASE WHICH AFFECTED A PARTICULAR PERSON IN IST GENERATION MAY ERUPT AGAIN IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION OR IN BETWEEN OF THESE GENERATIONS.
That is exactly the Hindu Mythology Says,"ASAR SAAT PEEDI TAK NAHIN JATA".

Navin Jindal is only voicing for the people and their culture with which they are living for thousand of years.

Rituals continuing over the years, rightly or wrongly, may have some reasons behind them, which probably we do not know. May be, we try to find the reasons, if necessary.

As far as Courts are concerned, they have been over ruling their own judgements, many a times.

Moreover the Ruling parties and their Netas hardly bother to implement the judgement of these courts.

There are many examples where clauses in the Indian Constitution were changed to over rule the judgements of the courts.

So let us not bring Bombay court Judgement here.

We have a society with in built customs and rituals over thousand of years, under which a girl slleeping with her boyfriend or a married lady involved in extramarital relations, are not acceptable.: Right or Wrong is debatable- but we can not overlook the norms, continuing and accepted by the society for centuries.

Please, Donot just Criticize, the accepted norms of the middle class without getting deep into it.

The Strength of our Society, per say, is totally Middle Class. That is why such struggle is in Middle Class only.

Higher Class do not bother about the Society and its laid down norms.

CRITICISM or REACTIONS ARE INVITED.

What a tasl-full message to Jindal and likeminded politicians Abantika. This piece of yours might augur in eye opener to those nurturing conservationism in mind, heart and soull. Congrats !

Ignorance is bliss, that's what the current generation of jurnos like Ghose, affirms with their uneducated harangue about everything and nothing in particular. Instead of understanding what Gotra is and why it is important in Hindu culture she goes on with her meaningless diatribe against Hindu culture. This is why India will never make any progress.

You appear to be totally convinced that indian culture evolved out of stupidity of our forefathers.
Dont be stupid.
"A man can be unfaithful to his wife but so long as he turns up for the family Puja in a starched white kurta pajama, he is the model of "indianness"." Is a statement as stupid as any.It is that way only till he is caught. No 'samaj'or social system treats it as good. Society may tolerate it as fact of life.

Madam, let the subject be discussed by the panel of expert experts.

I was watching Barkha Dutt's programme on NDTV, and Mr. Naveen Jindal very categorically mentioned that marriage within same gotra is a personal choice and belief an thus should be respected - and should not be forced by anyone upon others.
In our family, too, we don't marry in the same gotra - as it is believed that the off springs out of same gotra - may suffer because of genetic mutation - why take the risk of exposing an innocent new born to such harsh probability
Nura John

Dear Madam,
The urban India is indeed very different from the villages of haryana, at the same time, let us not forget that these villages also are a a part of the same country. As you are educated and have mediums like the press and internet, to express your views, similarly, the villagers have the panchayats. The panchayats in turn met Mr. Jindal, to express their views. And Mr. Jindal, as a responsible member of Parliament, agreed to put forth their views.
Is that a crime. In fact in hordes of his interviews, he has been repeatedly saying that he does not support the panchayats' acts of injustice and honor killings. Like all of us, these villagers also have a right to an opinion.
We also know how self containing the media can be. They can twist and turn facts, and blow things out of proportion.
Your concern, to protect your right is absolutely respected. Like wise, we should allow the villagers to express their concerns. Let us at least understand their POV.
This ia all Mr. Jindal is trying to do. Why can we not let him do his job in peace?

As an Indian, I should have the choice to go with my belief - of whether or not I will marry in the same gotra - my parents and family is strongly opposed to same gotra marriage. Naveen Jindal has taken the middle path of letting people believe in their belief and clearly stated that he does not favour anyone forcning one's view point on others. He has also opposed honour killing and other wrong doings of khap panchayat.

I have personally visited Kurukshetra and found that naveen jindal in actually involved in women oriented social projects like campaign against dowry, female foeticite etc. He even got khap panchayat to agree to take up campaigns on these issues.
Let us give him credit for whatever he has taken up, instead of ridiculing him for being straight forward for forthright

How can a tradition be challanged which has been there in the indian culture for generations can be just wiped out...The dynamic young MP while executing his duty as the representative of its people agrees to take the memorandum to his party seniors is totally misunderstood and an issue is being blown out of proportions for no reason...and i would also like to share that the journalist interviewing is also a human only and by standards of journalism it should have been presented the way...as i understand..There must have been a lot of conversation between the two..where is the other part of the conversation in the news article...and i see no harm in talking to the mother...it does not amount to saying the journalist was gruilled....utter rubbish....i am sure it could have been presented in a better...certainly an article of not of Times of India standard....

I feel we are being unduly harsh to jindal. this jindal fellow had fought hard for Indian's right to hoist flat at our houses. Being a politician - and he has to give ear to his people in the village. We may differ on gotra marraige issue, but he does not support - any un lawful activity of his people or khap, whatever it means.
on searching more on gotra, i learnt that this is prevalent among many regions and religions - and it is supposed to be an ancient belief - and surprising, it has ancient and modern scietific support as well. (as one of the docs on this blog mentioned.

Neeven Jindal forth their views but he has made it very clear that he is against honour killing,In all his interview he said very clearly that he is not supporting or any actions of Khap.

Madam, it seems you have not understood or rather misunderstood what Naveen Jindal had said. He opined that Khap panchyats has been in existence for a long time and as a representative, Naveen Jindal is putting forth their views and has also made it very clear that he is against honour killing.

I hope u hv read d quote by Lorri Vaughter Allen: “Choose ur responses carefully. Whether u incite or inspire is ur decision”
After reading this blog I wud like 2 say “Choose ur words carefully. Whether u incite or inspire is by ur writing.” very carefully chosen d words, however u hv divulged in ur replies tht u r not so clear abt d same-gotra concept.. v r part of society n societies do hv norms…our hindu vedic norm is 2 avoid same gotra (clan lineage) marriage, cousin marriage, etc n this is a custom developed by our ancestors..it will be foolish of us 2 prove them wrong….
y v hv 2 misinterpreting Jindal..I feel v shud remember wht hindu culture states.. all d practicing well informed Shastrigals states v can’t marry in d same gotra (same lineage). Its better 2 follow d system until its conclusively proved wrong. I mean no offence here...
1 of ur fellow bloggers Bachi Karkaria in her blogpost 'Kissing Cousins' states: “Am I my brother's sleeper? D question surfaces eachtime I dip in2 d now daily diet of gotra gruel–n leaves me gagging on it. My deep, dark non-secret is tht I am married 2 my first cousin. Truth b told, nearly 40 years on, I still cringe 2 mention d relationship 2 non-Parsi friends. D reaction invariably is 1 of shocked horror. To them its nothing short of 1st-degree incest. ‘U r a Pharoah or wht?' is d kindest of d retorts. But, amidst my fellow Parsis, I can swan ard lik Cleopatra”
Its more abt d community/caste tht wht culture dey r following since ages n dey hv every right 2 b following tht.. v r no one 2 pass judgments..Surely Naveen Jindal wid all his foreign degrees n page3 persona has got deep rooted cultural values n Indianism still very much alive in his Heart.. unlike other foreign educated lot who r blindly following Americanism…he is d true model of "indianness"… n he needs no justification 4 tht… v shud thank him 4 d right v hv 2day 2 own our National Flag..we all can fly it anytime.. the true patriot n true Indian he is…

We can't ignore the elders voice in the society, young generation almost ignoring the elders and their views. They are the head of the family in the villages. Therefore they can teach good things to society also, they learned more lessons than us about the life. If we consider the Khap Panchayat issue, that may the reason as an young politician, representative of the people, Mr. Naveen Jindal, MP agreed with the khap panchayat to forward their problems to the Congress party and the Government.

I Have qouted the Example of a Medical Fact Through Dr. Hargovind Khorana research. This is Valid for seven generations as per his results.

In my post I have not argued for or against. I have said this is open to crticism.
To start with, I have said, let us ascertain through medical reasons.

Regarding the court judgement I have already made my points which are valid. In such cases Court Judgements have no basis.

surprised to see so many pro gotra view

i am an engineer and budding manager and don't know much about biology but with the little knowledge which i have, i suppose that these gotras started with some rishi munis thousands of years ago and over the ages there affect is diluted so there is no point sticking to gotra theory any more.

the point is love don't see gotra. if the khap panchayat dislike this then don't allow there own son and daughter to marry in the same gotra but who are they to dictate terms to rest of the members of the villages and then ordering their killing . it is nothing but indian version of taliban . government should struck on it ruthlessly

In Agarwl community, founder of the community (Maharaja Agarsain) was supposed to have 17 sons. Clan of each son is supposed to be one Gotra. When the tradition was started, offspring of one person were supposedly brother & sisters. Mating between brother & sister produces weaker offesprings & weak genes. Hence marriages are not done within the family. As so many generations have passed since then, it is not a scientific necessity, but a well accepted social norm.

Jindal has to win elections
People of this country believe in gotra
No matter what ghose and TOI SAY if Jindal does not listen to people of his area, his rival will win

I must say commendable job by media again ths tym!!! It clearly showed onc again tht how an innocent person lik Mr. Naveen Jindal who talks straight w/o any artificial coating on it can b made a news fr all wrong reasons. I myself is a bania girl. But I respect my community values. many ppl dnt evn knw wht a gotra is! those who r supportin inter gotra mrg will 2mrw say mrg b/w siblings is also fyn. Pls dont mak fun of relationships and hv sm respect fr other's religion also. Whn we agrwals r nt questioning on othrs religion lik y Muslims r allowed to marry amng their first cousins also. See those who r talkin abt injustc on women, ths is also a kind of injustice so y didnt anybody stood up to stop many mrgs in Muslims?? And y women r always projected as so weak n helpless!!! If a mother tells her daughter tht sleeping wid her boyfrnd is a greater sin then it is again a women who as a mother is making her follow d traditions.. actually women thnslvs consider them weak and project thmselves d same way 2 others. Many men n children are so v exploited by women whch is nvr talked abt!! But here I support Mr. Naveen Jindal that inter gotra mrgs shud nt b allowed maintaining (as maintained by Mr. Jindal) that owner killing should b stopped. This media hype is just bcz Mr. Jindal is an MP and who stood up to say his heart out. U tell me guys can u marry ur sis or brother?? whnu guys cant understand the d complicated connections b/w old traditions n their reasons fr existences, I thnk u shud mak it a fuss. No body is supporting killing and cruel punishments so please understand d difference b/w d two!! thx

Lol Abantika, no family teaches its ok to cheat as long as you turn up for pooja!! Dont make such populist statements.. and BTW I want the sentence for Kaph to be upheld but the side effects of Intra gotra marriages leading to genetics is true.. well you wouldnt belive in it till some western scientist publishes it lol typical upwardly mobile educated westernised youth! Gotra is lineage its your genetic profile if your household had maintained the tradition of saying pravara i.e reciting your lineage when certain rites are performed, you'd know or remember it! Its a very personal personal thing, like family guide to choosing a partner. They can't legalize it after all people should have the right to inbreed!!:)) ha ha..kidding..

I see you askign lot of people who are commenting about Gotra as "What is gotra" etc well how did you write an article without researching the subject? Populist journalism!! is it fashionable to be ill informed and stupid? Follow the Americans!!! :)) LMAO hope your boss doesnt see you asking questions about a topic you just wrote about!!

Abantika its not mythological!! Its called genetics!in your dictionary in indian context its called clans, gotra, caste whatever -- wake up dear. Just dont jump the bandwagon just cos the Haryanvi people wont read your stuff.. Rsearch the topic before you write it.
There are tons of educated and more wualified Hindus that make an effort to understand thei culture and heritage , which doesnt mean killing people! so chill and read about your heritage. I have increased hits on your blog:) should get you brownie points he he:)

This is what every politician in Indian Democrazy Does. Navin Jindal a business school student of University of Texas follows this beaten path.He is chip of the old block! Indian edition of democrazy overflows with politicians who only follow beaten path! This is the normal path of Mediocres in Democrazy. Indian leadership is over flowing with such mediocres. They cannot take any epoach making, trend setting, Objective, value driven, fruitful decisions which makes a difference to Aam Aadmi! In the case of KHAP Episode, Naveen`s interest is only to ensure how his vote bank is kept in tact. New gun of congress and a youth icon is a great disappointment!

A gotra is the lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth. In most cases, the system is patrilineal and the gotra assigned is that of the person's father. Other terms for it are vansh, vanshaj, bedagu, purvik, purvajan, pitru.

yes the english written is good but not factually correct...in the end it should have written like a disclaimer...the article is the opinion of the writer and has got relevance as it is not properly written...In the name of modernity they want make this place a hell...where there is no distinction between humans and others..please dont try to tell the world that you know to write english rather write something which will add value...

Naveen jindal is a good politician and only trying that his constituents are heard properly.We must not be judgemental on khaps as well.They are trying to preserve the social traditions.I dont see anything wrong in that.

nice article!!

i don't know why every one is considering a marriage between people of the same gotras as the marriage between two brother and sister.

gotra cousins are symbolic brothers and sisters because thousands of years ago their parents were same .
if we follow the same logic and extend it to primordial history than each one of us is brother and sister because we took birth from the same couple i.e adam and eve so their should be no marriage at all.

It is sad that the media is using converstaions with MP's and politicians to claim " their fame" and gain their bylines. Suprising that conversations make front page news. The fact of the matter is the media can be also rude and unresponsive and they are also trying to get their brownie points. what is even disappointing is that if some one is making the effort, they should open dialogue and encourage change rather than use personal bias. We need more MATURE news reports!

is he ntfrom te Congress?? Pseudo secularist and corrupt!

The gotra of the female is changed during marriage to the gotra of the groom. So genetically speaking, the gotra is at best representative of a thin and twisted male lineage. Clearly banning same gotra marriages cannot be such a preventive measure for genetic diseases in the offspring. Gotra is meaningless in a patriarchal setup. If we really had to keep a tab on ancestry, our names would have to stretch miles. We'd talk like the Ents.so all u people out there trying to justify a meaningless element in our culture with worn-out arguments, relax.

In all other part of the country, Hindus Marry in same caste. Only in haryana Jats , there is a different tradition? Jats are not original Hindus. They are Afghan Migrants in AD 800s. Brahmins and Khshatriyas in other parts of INDIA Marry in same caste. Among them,marrying in another caste is not accepted. But Jats have a different rule ???? How are they different from other Hindus in the country?

True political class live on divisions like caste,religion,region etc etc.These man made caste,religion and region are weapons in the hands of the political class to weild them at the time of election to win the election and rule over the people.But funny part is we are the people who give them energy and power because we speak against it but in reality we practice these cards of caste,religion and region.When you meet someone you immediately make out whether he is Hindu,Muslim,etc and then his caste or belonged to which state etc.This is narrow Indian mind.We need thorough education to get rid of this rabid malady.