Balod

A community organisation in Chhattisgarh’s Balod has introduced a rule prohibiting engaged couples from speaking privately over the phone before their wedding, citing a rise in broken engagements.

The decision was taken by members of the Sen community, categorised under the Other Backward Classes (OBC), which has an estimated population of around 2.5 lakh across the state. A significant section of the community is traditionally associated with the salon profession.

Santosh Kaushik, district president of the community body in Balod, said the move followed repeated instances of engagements being called off. According to him, discussions revealed that frequent phone conversations between prospective brides and grooms were contributing to misunderstandings and separations.

“We found that many engagements were breaking after the couple started communicating extensively over mobile phones. So it has been decided that there should be no private communication between them from the time of engagement until the wedding,” he said.

He added that if any interaction is necessary, it should occur in the presence of parents or family members.

Gauri Shankar Shrivas, the community’s state organisation secretary, supported the decision and said it would soon be extended across Chhattisgarh. He noted that earlier the community had also discouraged pre-wedding photo shoots as part of its efforts to address social concerns.

The new rule has sparked mixed reactions, particularly among young people.

Sakshi, a 20-year-old resident of Balod, expressed support for the decision, saying prolonged phone conversations before marriage sometimes create unrealistic expectations and family tensions. “If phones are becoming a reason for broken engagements, then some limits are necessary,” she said.

However, journalist Poonam Ritu Sen urged the community to rethink the restriction. She argued that communication before marriage is essential for compatibility and informed decision-making. “Choosing a life partner is a lifelong commitment. If differences are identified early, it is better to end the engagement than face separation after marriage,” she said.

Meanwhile, Umesh Kumar Sen, a spokesperson for the community in Balod, said additional resolutions were also adopted. These include discontinuing the wedding custom in which sisters-in-law hide the groom’s shoes — a playful ritual believed to sometimes cause disputes — and severing ties with members who convert to another religion.

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The measures have triggered debate over the balance between community norms and individual freedoms.