Draupadi, popularly called Panchali in the Mahabharata tale, is renowned for having five husbands but refusing to accept them. Something like this occurs in the present day among a community called the Hatti in Himachal Pradesh. In one instance, a lady marries every brother in the family, becoming the mother and wife to each of their offspring. Among the Hattis, this custom—known as polyandry or “Jodidaran”—keeps families together and stops land from being divided, especially among lower-class households with fewer resources.
There are other communities in the lower Himalayas that also engage in this activity, in addition to the Hatti community. Recntly, the Hatti community was granted Scheduled Tribe status recently, and their leaders attribute this status largely to the practice of polyandry. In their culture, there is social equality, but gender roles are evident from birth; girls’ births are not recognized, while males’ births are marked with special meals.
Although a woman is legally wed to one of the brothers, her brothers are all recognized as her husbands in society. These weddings result in the adoption of children under the terms of a village document known as Wajib-ul-Arz, which is essential for recognition and official purposes.
Among the Hatti community in Himachal Pradesh and the surrounding areas, polyandry is not only a historical artifact but also a vibrant custom that fulfills utilitarian and cultural needs. In the past, this approach arose as a workable response to the difficulties presented by the terrain and economy of the area. In the harsh landscape of the Himalayas, where there is a lack of land and farming is challenging, polyandry promotes family harmony and improves resource management.
From a social perspective, polyandry prevents land holdings from being divided among several successors, which would result in smaller and less productive plots. This is especially crucial in areas where land division may put the family’s financial stability in jeopardy and agriculture is the main source of income.
Furthermore, cultural norms and beliefs are a major contributing factor to polyandry within the Hatti tribe. It makes sure that everyone in the family supports one another and strengthens the ties between brothers. Every brother assumes distinct tasks and responsibilities in the household, all of which contribute to its general stability and well-being.
In the Hatti culture, polyandry reflects larger societal dynamics and gender roles in addition to its practical advantages. Despite the fact that women are valued in the family because they are the wives of numerous brothers, there are clear differences between the genders in social norms. While the birth of a female kid might not receive the same level of social acclaim, the birth of a male child is typically marked by feasts and rituals, signifying power and continuation for the family lineage.