The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : A wedding sans hullabaloo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

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Other States - Rajasthan

A wedding sans hullabaloo

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: It was a quiet monsoon wedding this weekend for Vaibhav, son of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, at Jodhpur, the family's home turf. Most people in the celebration-happy Rajasthan missed the event as no one other than the family members and close associates of the groom and the bride joined the ceremony on July 9.

Living up to his stand of austerity in public and personal life, Mr.Gehlot did not even print invitation cards for the occasion. The fact that the bride Himanshi's family hails from Deedwana town in the neighbouring Nagaur district and the marriage was being solemnized at Jodhpur, the political base of the Gehlots, added to the delicate nature of the whole affair. "It was a very difficult decision to make. All those who got to know about the marriage started coming home a week before offering their `sewa'(services). The biggest problem was excluding the local Congress workers who have been with me throughout my public life from the ceremony,'' Mr.Gehlot said talking to this Correspondent.

In the tradition-bound Rajasthan the size and nature of marriage ceremonies are directly linked a family's prestige and good will. The case becomes matter of family honour when it is the wedding of the son and also the last wedding of the generation in the family.

It was perhaps a taxing time for Vaibhav too, the only son of Ashok Gehlot and Sunita, as he too formally joined politics only a few months back. An advocate by profession, the young Vaibhav had his political baptism with fire recently when he received lathi blows while marching with Youth Congress workers to the Rajasthan Assembly. "I did not want to impose my things on him. A few of his personal friends, family members and relatives of the girl's family made up the small group,'' Mr.Gehlot noted.

"Yes, from the party there was the Pradesh Congress president B.D.Kalla and then there were local MLAs,'' he informed.

Nobody seems to be complaining. Even as the Chief Minister in December 2001, the first wedding in the family, that of daughter Sonia, was solemnized in a similar manner--no invitation cards, no gifts, no revelry.

On her part, Congress president Sonia Gandhi appreciated the gesture, which is in tune with the guidelines of the party. "I really appreciate the manner in which you stand by the principles and values of adherence to the code of ethics and austerity in public life. I send my good wishes to both Vaibhav and Himanshi for a life full of joy and fulfilment,'' Ms.Gandhi said greeting the newly weds.

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