‘Lessons from the tragic episode of Swathi’ reads the title of a matrimonial site founder’s message to clients. It goes on to “caution” Brahmin women against losing their Brahmin privilege by marrying outside the caste.
In an apparent reference to P Ramkumar, the accused in the brutal hacking of Infosys software engineer S Swathi, the founder of Chennai Sai Sankara Matrimonials, N Panchapakesan accuses “loafers” of trying to win over Brahmin girls from “respected and cultured” families. He says girls are increasingly falling victim to “temptation or threatening” and advises them to exercise self-restraint.
“To be born as a Human being is a rarity! To take a birth as Brahmin is something unique,” he says, while attaching a caveat: “It is not that other caste people are in any way inferior to us.” But he also cautions, “Once getting into inter-caste marriages, Brahmin brides lose their Brahminical identity and privileges once for all! No point in regretting later, after committing the Himalayan Blunder!”
Panchapakesan goes on to lament the fact that some of “our boys and girls” are indulging in eating non-vegetarian food along with smoking and drinking, and that they’re getting into relationships in a casual manner and then marrying according to their parents’ choice.
In an appeal of sorts to Brahmin parents, the matrimonial site’s founder says, “The very purpose of running our marriage bureau exclusively for Brahmins is to ensure against such inter-caste marriages! I feel it is high time for our Brahmin brides to resolve to marry Brahmin grooms only and not to give any scope for any temptation to anyone else in the process!”
He ends his post praising Swathi for her belief in god and her continued resistance to the “loafer’s efforts” and urges everyone, especially women to follow the advice of a purported inspector of police that has been doing the rounds on Whatsapp. While the inspector’s advice mostly talks about common sense precautions to take, especially when using social media, the message on the matrimonial site clearly attempts to focus on caste, and make a distinction between “us” and them” in referring to Brahmins and those of other castes.