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ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN, January 14, 2012 (Express Tribune): Bhayya Ram is not happy. A representative of the scheduled caste Hindu community in Rahim Yar Khan, he has taken strong offense to the newly drafted bill of marriage registration for scheduled caste Hindus. While most, including Ram, would think that legal recognition of Hindu marriages is a good thing, he is disappointed by the inclusion of the proverbial exit clause — divorce. “Once married, a couple is wedded for life. There is no concept of divorce in Hinduism as we have practiced for centuries,” said Ram, a representative of the scheduled caste Hindu community in Rahim Yar Khan. According to Ram, a majority of scheduled caste Hindus are perturbed by inclusion of the divorce option, saying that the very concept of divorce is against their religious beliefs. However, religious beliefs have become tightly intertwined with economic realities. “The new legislation would open new controversies in case of divorce, because poor Hindus cannot afford to give inheritance rights to girls,” Ram told The Express Tribune.

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