Nabarangpur: Nabarangpur is not predominantly a tribal district, yet caste traditions still persist. Former MP and BJD leader Pradeep Majhi has been socially ostracized for 12 years by his community for marrying outside his caste.
A crucial meeting of the Bhatra community’s central committee was held on Friday at Dhamanaguda in Jharigaon block, presided over by vice-president Gopal Pujari. The committee decided to impose a 12-year social boycott on Pradeep Majhi and his family for marrying outside their caste.
It was also resolved that no member of the Bhatra community would participate in any social or personal events related to Pradeep Majhi’s family. So far, Pradeep Majhi has not given any reaction to this decision.
Bhatra Community Declares 12-Year Ostracization
According to sources, Pradeep Majhi married Sushree Sangeeta Sahu from Kendrapada district in a grand ceremony in Goa on the 12th of this month. Since Sangeeta belongs to a different caste, the community’s central committee alleged that Pradeep displayed contempt for his own caste by marrying outside it.
Previously, Pradeep’s sister, Sanjukta Majhi, also married into a Brahmin family at Jagannath Temple in Koraput. This further strengthened the committee’s belief that Pradeep harbors disdain towards his own caste.
The meeting was attended by several key leaders, including Tikachand Majhi (Jharigaon Block Bhatra Society President), Hiranya Majhi (Dabugaon Block President), Ramdhar Majhi (Operations Committee President), Paramana Bhatra, Manganath Bhadra Majhi, Nuakhaou Bhatra, Pitama Bhatra, and Ratan Nayak.