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NEW KERALA (India) 07 November 04 Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh)Man ostracised for being bit by snake:
Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh): A weird drama has been played out in the name of community traditions at a Madhya Pradesh village, that included a man being ostracised for being bit by a snake and his brother being stopped from earning his livelihood for getting tonsured.
Basant Rao, a farmer from the Raj Gond tribal community of Sudamapuri village here, was bit by a snake a few days ago. He went to the district hospital for treatment, but instead of healing, the wound became gangrenous.
Soon after, the village council met to excommunicate Basant and his family - in accordance with an age-old tradition that calls for ostracising people who are bit by animals or reptiles.
The council told Basant he could escape the punishment if his elder brother, Anik Rao, would pay a fine of Rs.50 ($1) and get his head tonsured.
Anik readily came to his brother's rescue, paying the fine and tonsuring his head, but only to find himself in trouble now.
According to another tradition in the village, anyone who gets his head shaved cannot earn his livelihood. The village council imposed the rule and refused to budge from its decision.
"We are not affluent people. We have to work everyday. Our whole family was on the verge of starvation," Anik told IANS.
The district administration was then sounded off about the incident, and it swung into action.
"All five members of the village council have been arrested," the district collector told IANS.
Anik has now started working in his field, while Basant is in the state capital Bhopal undergoing treatment.
Man ostracised for being bit by snake:

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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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