In Assam’s Darrang district, a woman faces fines and social ostracism for choosing practicality over tradition. Meghali Das’s decision to wear a salwar-kameez has ignited debates about moral policing, personal freedom, and the cost of defying societal norm
BY PC Bureau
In the quiet lanes of Gongajani Kuwori village, nestled within Assam’s Darrang district, a storm brews—not of weather, but of societal judgment. Meghali Das, a small business owner, dared to defy tradition by donning a salwar-kameez instead of the customary mekhela sador or saree. For this choice, she paid an unexpected price: a fine of ₹5,000 and a life on the fringes of her community.
The incident, as reported by officials from the Deputy Collector’s office, unfolded in shocking detail. A village court convened in the hallowed halls of the local temple—an assembly not for justice, but for enforcing archaic norms. The decree was swift: a ban on salwar-kameez, ostracism for the Das family, and an unspoken yet palpable reminder of what happens to those who challenge tradition.
Meghali, undeterred, stands by her sartorial choice. “I run a shop,” she explained in her complaint to the police. “I have to fetch goods from the market. Salwar-kameez is simply more convenient.” But practicality and personal freedom were met with scorn, as villagers accused her of everything from breaking cultural norms to engaging in illicit activities, including selling counterfeit gold and liquor.
Her children, too, have been swept into this social exile, barred from mingling with their peers or even attending the family’s shop. Yet Meghali remains defiant, a beacon of resilience in the face of oppressive conformity.
The Rise of Moral Policing
Meghali’s story is not an isolated one. Across India, moral policing—whether enforced by community mobs or institutional mandates—continues to choke individual freedoms.
Consider the tragic events of August 2024 in Bengaluru. A 21-year-old college student, vacationing with friends at a rented homestay, became the target of local outrage. What began as an objection to the group’s activities escalated into violence, culminating in the young man’s death. The tragedy has sparked arrests but also questions about unchecked vigilantism.
Or take the harrowing November 2023 incident in Karnataka’s Haveri district, where an interfaith couple faced an attack by seven assailants who barged into their hotel room. Their only “crime” was daring to love across religious lines—a recurring flashpoint in moral policing narratives.
When States Step In
Moral policing isn’t confined to community enforcement; state governments, too, have ventured into this fraught territory.
In Assam, a ban on beef consumption in public places, ostensibly to respect religious sentiments, has sparked controversy. Critics argue it disproportionately affects certain communities, reinforcing societal divides.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh’s Kanwar Yatra regulations have become an annual battleground for debates on religious favoritism. The state’s directive to shut down meat shops along pilgrimage routes disrupts local businesses, many of whom rely on these sales for their livelihood.
While officials present such measures as efforts to maintain harmony, detractors see them as a form of state-sanctioned moral policing, one that prioritizes the beliefs of some over the freedoms of others.
A Call to Reflect
The moral policing Meghali Das endures is not merely about clothing; it is emblematic of a larger struggle between tradition and modernity, community norms and individual rights. Across India, similar stories highlight the tension between preserving cultural heritage and ensuring personal freedom.
As we reflect on these incidents, we must ask: At what cost do we enforce societal norms? And more importantly, who decides what is moral? Meghali’s courage is a reminder that challenging such questions is both necessary and brave—a step toward a future where freedom isn’t just a right but a reality.
