Uma Mandal, 19, and Ramesh Mandal, 26, of Katahari VDC in the district of Morang were classmates. The duos, who were in love ever since they were in 9th grade at school, passed their SLC exam and were all set to get married. Ramesh, however, decided to go abroad for employment. His decision made Uma worried that their love affairs could break up. However, being optimistic that money could make their life easier once they would enter into married life following Ramesh’s return from foreign employment; she finally agreed to allow Ramesh to go abroad for employment. As proposed by Uma, they had their marriage performed secretly at a temple before Ramesh left the country with an understanding that they would marry each other again ostentatiously following Ramesh’s return.
On the second day of their marriage, Ramesh left country for foreign employment for three years. He however returned to Nepal after two years. Upon his return, discussion took place between their families on their marriage. Ramesh’s family demanded for dowry beyond the capacity of Uma’s family. Since their marriage was still to be sanctioned by their communities via performing a religious function, it was necessary for them to organize marriage ceremony.
Uma’s family tried a lot to resolve the problem but in vain. It was while undergoing such a problem that Uma’s family approached the Community Mediation Center based in the Katahari Village Development Committee and filed an application there. The Center invited Ramesh’s family including other concerned and for the mediation. A long and heated discussion took place during the mediation session. However, Ramesh’s family kept on demanding for gold, silver and motorbike as dowry therefore their dispute could not be mediated in the session. An intensive discussion took place on the second session of their mediation and the Center was able to reach both the disputing parties to an agreement. As per the agreement, both the disputing parties agreed to hold marriage ceremony within one month without giving and taking dowry and to live congenially as relatives.
Hence, the Community Mediation Center located at Katahari VDC was able to mediate a dowry related issue efficiently. It is noteworthy that dowry is deeply rooted in the marriages of Tarai communities.
