Empowering girls is the foundation of any truly progressive society. Yet in the tribal-populated villages of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, deep-seated patriarchal norms continue to deny girls their basic rights to education, autonomy, and self-determination. The Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis, the major tribal communities in the region, have strong cultural traditions, but some of these traditions, including early marriages, act as barriers to the progress of young girls.
Instead of being seen as individuals with aspirations and potential, many girls are treated as property to be controlled, married off early, and silenced in the name of family honor. One of the most alarming justifications for early marriages is the belief that higher education corrupts girls, leading them toward "immoral activities."
Many parents argue that if their daughters are not married at an early age, they will become "too independent," "too modern," or engage in relationships outside the family's approval. This fear, deeply rooted in patriarchal control, results in countless young girls being pulled out of school, married early, and trapped in a cycle of domestic subjugation.
During conversations with college-going girls from these tribal communities, they began narrating painful stories of how their dreams were crushed by family-imposed marriages, how they were emotionally blackmailed, and how resistance came with severe social consequences. Their expressions of pain and helplessness spoke volumes about the silent suffering they endure in the face of male-dominated decision-making.
The Fear of Female Independence
Many families in the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari communities strongly believe that sending girls to college is dangerous. They fear that exposure to modern education will encourage girls to think critically and question traditional gender roles, introduce them to friendships and interactions with boys which are viewed as morally corrupt, and make them financially independent, reducing their dependence on male family members.
The idea that education leads to immorality is not just outdated—it is a deliberate tactic to control women. It stems from the belief that a woman's greatest virtue is her obedience and sexual purity, both of which are best preserved, in their view, by early marriage and isolation from modern influences.
Many parents see early marriage as a solution to their fears. By getting their daughters married before they complete their education, they believe they are "protecting" them from the dangers of college life. This thinking reflects a complete lack of trust in girls' ability to make moral and rational decisions. Instead of allowing them to develop self-discipline and strong ethical values through education, families choose to lock them into marriage before they can exercise any agency over their own lives.
This fear-driven approach fails to address the real issue. If families are truly concerned about their daughters' morality, the solution is not denying them education but rather ensuring that they receive strong moral and ethical guidance alongside academic learning. The assumption that young women will inevitably engage in immoral behavior if given freedom reflects deep-seated misogyny, not concern for their well-being.
Education Cut Short by Marriage
One of the most tragic consequences of this patriarchal mindset is that many girls in the tribal villages of Rajouri are forced to drop out of college just as they begin their undergraduate studies. While talking with these college-going girls, they began sharing painful stories of how they were abruptly pulled out of education, sometimes in the middle of an academic year, because their families had arranged their marriages.
Even when some girls resisted, they were subjected to severe emotional blackmail. Parents would tell them "You are bringing shame to the family," "Your younger siblings will suffer because of you," or "If you refuse, no one will marry you later, and you will be a burden on us forever."
Such coercive tactics make it nearly impossible for girls to assert their right to education. Even in rare cases where they are allowed to study after marriage, their academic journey is severely disrupted by domestic responsibilities, societal expectations, and lack of spousal support.
The effects of early marriage extend beyond education and career limitations. Early forced marriage takes a severe toll on girls' mental and physical well-being. Many young brides suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem due to the abrupt loss of control over their lives.
Early pregnancies pose additional health risks, with adolescent girls facing higher rates of maternal mortality, pregnancy complications, and childbirth-related injuries. The physical and emotional strain of motherhood at a young age further limits their ability to break free from the cycle of oppression.
Social Pressures and Male Control
Many forced marriages in the region are based on the practice of consanguineous marriages, where girls are married to their cousins. These types of marriages are practiced in various cultures across South Asia, Middle East and North Africa.
The rationale behind this practice includes preserving family wealth, strengthening kinship ties and maintaining cultural identity. Parents fear that if their daughters are educated and allowed to make their own choices, they might marry outside the family, which is considered unacceptable.
If a girl dares to reject a marriage proposal arranged within the family, it is viewed as a direct insult to the entire clan. In many cases, relatives sever ties with the girl's household as punishment. This intense social pressure ensures that most girls comply, even if it means sacrificing their dreams.
In many households, decisions about a girl's education, marriage, and future are made exclusively by male family members. Women, including mothers, have little to no say in these matters. This male-dominated system guarantees that girls remain submissive and dependent. Boys grow up witnessing their fathers and uncles exercising complete control over female relatives, reinforcing the belief that women are subordinate. This perpetuates the cycle of gender inequality and ensures that oppressive traditions continue into future generations.
Breaking the Cycle
Although India has laws against child marriage and early marriage, they are often ignored in rural and tribal areas due to lack of awareness and weak enforcement. The government must conduct strict monitoring of early marriages and take legal action against families and community elders who arrange them, establish helplines and safe houses for girls resisting early marriage, and increase penalties for violating laws protecting girls' right to education and autonomy.
Schools and colleges must take a proactive role in protecting female students from being pulled out due to marriage pressures by organizing programs that engage parents, community elders, and religious leaders in discussions about the benefits of girls' education, providing financial incentives and scholarships to families who allow their daughters to complete higher education, and ensuring on-campus counseling services to support girls facing pressure to drop out.
The notion that education corrupts girls must be challenged through grassroots awareness programs that educate communities about how higher education actually strengthens moral and ethical values, highlight success stories of educated women who have balanced professional careers and family life, and involve progressive male role models who advocate for gender equality within their own families.
When women are financially independent, they are less likely to be forced into marriage against their will. The government and private sector should promote skill development programs that equip young women with employable skills, establish women-led self-help groups to foster entrepreneurship, and create job opportunities in rural areas, ensuring that educated girls have employment options without having to migrate to urban centers.
A Call for Change
The deeply ingrained patriarchal traditions in the tribal villages of Rajouri continue to act as formidable barriers to the education and empowerment of young girls. The practice of early marriages, justified by misplaced fears of immorality and societal dishonor, systematically robs girls of their autonomy, dreams, and potential.
Addressing this issue demands a multi-pronged approach that involves legal, educational, and societal reforms. Strengthening the enforcement of laws against early marriages is crucial, but legal measures alone are insufficient if they are not supported by community-driven awareness campaigns.
Ultimately, the fight for girls' education in Rajouri is not just about academic access—it is about the fundamental right to choice, autonomy, and dignity. Only through collective resistance against outdated patriarchal norms can the chains of early marriages be broken, allowing girls to reclaim their futures and contribute to a more just and equitable society.
(The author can be reached at Farooqmajeed19@gmail.com)
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