Chronology samajhiye, Uttarakhand-style – The Economic Times

You never know who’s up to what these days. Which is why, the Uttarakhand government has listed 37 ‘prohibited relationships‘ each for men and women under the new UCC. These forbidden relationships include for men, mother’s mother’s father’s widow (great-grandmum) and daughter’s daughter’s son’s widow (great-grandbahu). For women, haraam hook-ups include father’s father’s mother’s husband (great-granddad), and mother’s father’s mother’s husband (another variation of great-granddad). It seems that Uttarakhand has wisely covered all bases, including theoretical ones.

We presume that readers of this paper may not have to refer to this list, considering most proscribed relations listed never entered your mind. But as a UCC rules committee member patiently explained, ‘In the past, marriages took place at a very young age. So, we included them to cover any such cases that might still exist today.’ Quite. One never knows who may get inspired by some old-fashioned, Amar Chitra Katha-style liaison. Uttarakhand’s authorities certainly continue to live in potentially ‘incesting’ times. Even if child marriage has been outlawed, having a relatively young great-grandmother or a willing great-grandfather isn’t beyond the realm of possibility for these guardians of relationships. They certainly give a new twist to the advice, ‘Chronology samajhiye’.