Rajasthan MBA bride breaks social taboo; arrives for wedding function on horseback

In a case that will raise eyebrows amongst Rajasthan’s patriarchy, a BJP parliamentarian’s daughter rode came on horseback during a wedding ritual, with a message that she would not be cowered and that woman are not inferior to men.

According to an NDTV report, Gargi Ahalawat, whose mother Santosh is campaigning for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao mission

Gargi, not her groom, arrived in a chariot to the "Bhandori", a ritual pre-wedding feast for the couple. "It is the groom who comes on a horse, but I changed it," the MBA, who studies in the United Kingdom added.

Fourteen districts from Rajasthan were selected for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao mission. These were selected on basis of where the sex ratio was the lowest. After two years, at least ten districts have shown remarkable progress. Jhunjhunu has converted from the lowest sex ratio district to the highest sex ratio district in the country. Over the past few years, Rajasthan has been able to maintain its number one position in ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ mission for which the state recently received Nari Shakti award from the President.

Traditionally, the eastern, north-eastern and southern states of India have fared much better than northern and central states in preserving the girl child. But, now with Haryana trying to change the narrative, it should serve as an inspiration to Punjab, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to up the ante. The problem is though state governments have long declared sex determination to be a criminal offence, attracting fine and jail terms, clinics continue to operate clandestinely due to demands from a section of people.