Dalit marries French woman

VILLUPURAM: Transcending barriers of custom, tradition, nation, race and colour, a French woman was married to a Dalit youth at Kombedu village near Gingee. The marriage was conducted in a church on Friday night.The couple met at a restaurant in Puducherry two years ago where the man was working as a supplier.Richard Martin (29), a Dalit Christian, was working as a labourer in a restaurant in Puducherry when Kursio Marianbos (29), hailing from Nann in France, had visited it and met him in 2004. Since then, she had been returning to India every year and staying for three months in Puducherry. Last year, the duo flew to France to seek permission for marriage from Marianbos’s parents. Marianbos and family members later visited the Dalit colony at Kombedu village and secured consent from Martin’s family members recently. The marriage was conducted at St Xavier Church at Kombedu village. More than 30 family members and relatives of Marianbos attended the function. The French women were decked up in silk sarees and blouses and men in dhoties and shirts. As many as 20 priests have solemnised the wedding. Speaking to this website's newspaper, Marianbos said: “I had visited the place on several occasions. I like the tradition and culture of people in Tamil Nadu. I will follow the custom and wear thali forever.”