Alipur in Gowribidanur of Kolar district is famous for being the richest village in the taluk, with a Shia Muslim population.
The credit for prosperity goes to residents who are engaged in the trading of precious stones for the past several years. Indeed, the village can now boast of all necessary civic facilities; there are two colleges opened by Muslim organisations to provide collegiate education to girls as well. Most of the sons and daughters of the village are now living abroad.
The Anjuman-I-Jaffar regulates the day-to-day affairs of the village and the rules framed by the Muslim body is followed by one and all, without a murmur of protest. Gambling, dowry, alcohol, prostitution and even love marriages are banned in the village and watching films is deemed to be against their faith.
However, the village has a separate television channel for some entertainment. And care has been taken to ensure that the programmes have no obscene or vulgar content in them.
But, poverty, wariness towards social security, superstition and disregard for medical advice have resulted in a curious phenomenon in the village. According to a recent survey, hundreds of Shia children are suffering from visual, speech and hearing impairment, thanks to consanguineous marriages among the community members, who have discarded scientific findings and doctors’ warnings.
More than 200 people in the 2,250 houses of the village are born with these defects. There are second, even third generation residents who are handicapped. While entire families are afflicted in some households, only children are struck in some others.
Here, a man who is dumb, has had children and grandchildren born to him who can speak easily.
According to Anjuman-I-Jaffar Chairman Sayyed Haider, consanguineous marriages are performed for fear of subjecting the women folk of the village to physical abuse and dowry harassment, if given in marriage to outsiders. Moreover, the belief that their offspring will provide shelter in old-age is also behind the parents marrying off their children among blood relatives, he says.
As such, the ‘defence mechanism’ against a social evil has brought about untold suffering to children.
Cases in point
Tailor Jalamat has four sons and a daughter. The first three sons Kumail Haider, Mohammed Haider and Wafa Haider cannot speak. But the youngest son Sayyed Mukhtar Haider and the daughter can. Similarly, Basarat Ali is dumb while his wife speaks well. However, none of their four children and two grandchildren are afflicted by the problem.
Also, the six offspring of Siraj and Jehar are born dumb. Tea stall owner Azeez Hussain is dumb, but his children are not and the three children of Hasan Raza Hussain also cannot speak. It can be said that dumbness or speech impairment is rampant among the Muslims here with no gender or age distinction!
According to Medical Officer Dr Ravindra, the condition is congenital, which is on the rise, thanks to consanguineous marriages. People are now being given enough information on the matter to create awareness, he says. And S M Fazil, who heads VSSS concurs: “We are now convinced that the problem is because of the social practice. The matter will be given due thought and we shall proceed from there on.”
Hope the discussions bear fruit in the right direction.
Translated by B S Srivani