21-year-old woman kills self, pins blame on 'aata sata' tradition in her suicide letter

A 21-year-old married woman allegedly ended her life in Nagaur, Rajasthan. In her suicide note, she pinned the blame on the age-old aata-sata tradition.

The now-deceased woman identified as Suman Choudhary, hailed from Nawa town of Nagaur district in Rajasthan. She died by suicide in Hempura village two days ago.

According to The Times of India, the woman appealed to the society to shun the ‘aata sata’ practice, a primitive custom still followed in the state.

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Aata-Sata is a custom that allows a family to get their daughter married only when the other family ready to give them a daughter to be married in their family. However, the age of the girls offered in this age-old tradition does not matter.

According to media reports, Suman’s family alleged that she was mentally ill and jumped into a well. But her suicide note revealed another story.

The woman’s suicide note reads, “if divorce or marrying against family wishes is not acceptable then why is aata sata acceptable.” Reportedly, Suman was married through this custom.

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She further wrote in her note that because of this practice, many girls' lives have been destroyed. Under this custom, a 17-year-old girl is married to a 70-year-old man as society wants a good bride for their sons.

According to aata-sata tradition, the husband’s sister can marry his wife’s brother. Reportedly, this tradition is the fallout of the low sex ratio of girls in the region.

Meanwhile, police launched an investigation into the matter after the suicide note went viral.
Suman’s family told police that she was mentally ill and had died after jumping in a well.

They also claimed that Suman’s husband was not living with her since he had gone abroad.

However, Suman’s suicide note tells a different story as she has blamed the age-old custom.

She had also urged youths in her note to launch a campaign against such customs of society.

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